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THE 



HISTORIES 



OF 



CAIUS CORNELIUS TACITUS 



NOTES FOR COLLEGES, 



W. S. TYLER, 

PROFESSOR OF LANGUAGES IN AMHERST COLLEGE 



Auguror, nee me fallit augurium, historias tuas immortales futuras. 

Plin. ad Tac. Epist. 7, 33. 

Respondit Cornelius Tacitus eloquentissime et, quod eximium orationi ejus 
inest, ccfivios. £"" Epist. 2, 11. 



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NEW YORKr ^ 

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY. 

PHILADELPHIA: 
GEO. S. APPLETON, 1G4 CHESNUT STREET. 

M DCCC XLI3 



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TO 



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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, 
By D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 

District of New York. 



PREFACE. 



The text of this edition follows, for the most part, Orelli's, 
Zurich, 1848, which, being based on a new and most faithful 
recension of the Medicean MS., by his friend Baiter, may just- 
ly be considered as marking a new era in the history of the 
text of Tacitus. In several passages, however, where he has 
needlessly departed from the MS., I have not hesitated to ad- 
here to it in company with other editors, believing, that not 
unfrequently <( the most corrected copies are the less correct." 
The various readings have been carefully compared through- 
out, and, if important, are referred to in the notes. 

The editions which have been most consulted, whether in 
the criticism of the text or in the preparation of the notes, 
are, besides Orelli's, those of Walther, Halle, 1831; Ruperti, 
Hanover, 1839; and Doderlein, Halle, 1847. The notes of 
Orelli are judicious and tasteful. Walther is sagacious, shrewd 
and independent, sometimes to a fault. Ruperti's edition is 
chiefly valuable as a repository of facts and opinions, selected 
with no great care and put together with little skill. Doder- 
lein is concise and discriminating, but is excessively fond of 
originality and bold conjecture. His Essay on the Style of 
Tacitus, besides this fault in the matter, is also wanting in 
ease and elegance of language; yet it has been esteemed 
worthy to be translated for this edition, as on the whole one 
of the best treatises on that subject. Boetticher's Lexicon 
Taciteum, Berlin, 1830, is marked by a felicitous expression, 
as well as a just appreciation, of our author's merits as a his- 



PREFACE. 



torian and of his peculiarities as a writer ; and its most valu- 
able results have been freely incorporated with the notes. 
Freund's Worterbuch der Lateinischen Spraehe, and Smith's 
Dictionaries, of Greek and Roman Antiquities, and of Biog- 
raphy and Mythology, the former republished in this country 
under the supervision of Dr. Anthon, and the latter still 
issuing in numbers from a London press, have been found 
very useful, and are often referred to. References are also 
made to Becker's Gallus, and to the Roman Histories of 
Niebuhr, Arnold and Schmitz. 

It will be seen, that there are not unfrequent references to 
my edition of the Germania and Agricola. These are not of 
such a nature, as to render this incomplete without that, or 
essentially dependent upon it. Still, if both editions are used, 
it will be found advantageous to read the Germania and 
Agricola first. The Treatises were written in that order, and 
in that order they best illustrate the history of the author's 
mind. The editor has found in his experience as a teacher, 
that students generally read them in that way with more fa- 
cility and pleasure, and he has constructed his notes accord- 
ingly. 

The notes on the Histories have been prepared with the 
same general views and principles as those on the Germania 
and Agricola. In accordance with suggestions in some of 
the public journals, they have been made somewhat more 
grammatical. Their value in this respect has been enhanced 
by more copious references to the excellent grammar of 
Zumpt in addition to that of Andrews and Stoddard. It is 
chiefly by way of such references, that the general principles 
of grammar have been illustrated. Sometimes, however, a 
concise statement of the principle referred to has been added ; 
and in regard to such idioms and constructions as are more 
or less peculiar to Tacitus, it has been found necessary to 
enter into more extended comments. It is hoped, that the 
notes will be found to contain not only the grammatical, but 



PREFACE. 5 

likewise all the geographical, archaeological and historical il- 
lustrations, that are necessary to render the author intelligi- 
ble. The editor has at least endeavored to avoid the fault, 
which Lord Bacon says " is over usual in annotations and 
commentaries, viz. to blanch the obscure places, and discourse 
upon the plain." But it has been his constant, not to say his 
chief aim, to carry students beyond the dry details of 
grammar and lexicography, and introduce them into a famil- 
iar acquaintance and lively sympathy with the author and his 
times, and with that great empire, of whose degeneracy and 
decline in its beginnings he has bequeathed to us so profound 
and instructive a history. It was for this end that the Pre- 
liminary Remarks were composed ; and if they accomplish 
this result in any considerable degree, though long, they will 
hardly be thought too long, and they will not have been 
written in vain. 

The Indexes have been prepared with much labor and 
care, and, it is believed, will add materially to the value of 
the work. 

The editor takes this opportunity to express his grateful 
sense of the kind reception which has been given to his edi- 
tion of the Germania and Agricola, and his thanks especially 
for such notices, whether by letter or in the public journals, 
as, while they fully appreciate its merits, point out its faults 
for correction. If this edition is in any degree more merito- 
rious or less faulty, the superiority will be owing, in no small 
measure, to such acts of kindness. Besides his obligations to 
those who have thus favored him, he acknowledges his par- 
ticular indebtedness to Professor B. B. Edwards of Andover, 
and Professor R. B. Hackett of Newton, for the aid and en- 
couragement which they have in various ways extended to 
him. He has been aided in the correction of the press by 
Mr. Marshall Henshaw, whose accurate and patient scholar- 
ship well fit him to render such and still higher services to 
classical learning. 

1* 



6 PREFACE. 

With these explanations, the editor takes leave of a work, 
on which he has bestowed much time and toil, and which, he 
would fain hope, may contribute in some humble measure to 
the better understanding and appreciation by his youthful 
countrymen of an author, a language and a people, formed 
by nature beyond most, if not beyond all others, to be sever- 
ally the writer, the vehicle and the subject of history. 



ESSAY 

ON THE STYLE OF TACITUS.* 



1. Tacitus was the inventor of an entirely new style of historic 
composition ; or rather he did not himself designedly form it, but, 
while he applied himself to writing history with a different design 
and spirit from other authors, a new style of expression was the 
natural and necessary result. For formerly it had been a prevalent 
custom among writers of history, not only to defer writing till they 
had arrived at a mature age, but also to compose with calm and tran- 
quil feelings ; differing in this respect from orators, who were wont 
to believe that the effect of their speaking would correspond with the 
degree of energy and emotion with which they spoke. Hence the 
calm, smooth and flowing style of the ancient historians, even of 
those who desired to be distinguished from the others by a sort of 
peculiar dignity. 

Now Tacitus was the first to depart from the rules of these wri- 
ters. For it was the natural bent of his genius, not so much to nar- 
rate the mere facts and events of history, which are often fortuitous, 
but he labored especially to exhibit the character and spirit of the 
actors in his scenes. Hence his chief merit, his great power, is seen 
in the delineation of character : whether he labors by description to 
place before us the image of some distinguished man ; or so relates 
his deeds, that the reader, by his own discernment, forms an opinion 
of his secret motives and principles of action. 

But since constant reflection upon virtue or vice has a very great 
influence over the passions, he came to write in an excited rather 
than a tranquil state of mind, so that he seems to possess more of the 
ardor of youth than of the maturity of age. Now of such a state of 
mind, a rapid and energetic style is the natural expression and the 
necessary result. In a word, his style is impetuous, always hasten- 
ing on to the issue, impatient of delay. And this arose not merely 

* Abridged from the Prolegomena of L. Doderlein to his edition of Tacitus, 
torn, ii., Halle, 1847, and translated from the Latin by Mr. Marshall Henshaw, 
A. M., Tutor in Amherst College. 



8 ESSAY ON THE 

from his own natural disposition, but he adapted the style of his nar- 
rative to the taste of his age. For, as is usually the case in a time 
of great moral declension, not only lassitude and listlessness, but 
also, at the same time, a sort of morbid desire for haste, had taken 
possession of the spirits of men ; while those qualities which are a 
proper mean between them — calmness of spirit and a healthy activity 
— are the characteristic of but few. Hence what was formerly con- 
sidered simplicity and dignified repose, then began to appear dull, 
spiritless and insipid. Tacitus was therefore impelled at the same 
time by his own genius, and by the taste of his age, to a hurried style 
of expression. 

But rapidity is opposed to dignity, — a grace which cannot be sepa- 
rated from equability and moderation. And since dignity, in ancient 
times, was the peculiar characteristic and requisite of a good history, 
so skill was necessary in the later historians to temper rapidity with 
dignity. To accomplish this purpose, Tacitus employed the utmost 
diligence in producing an ornamented diction. 

Now since I must briefly treat of the style of Tacitus, I will first 
show by what arts, nay, even by what artifices, he attained to that 
brevity which we admire as appropriate and peculiar to this writer ; 
secondly, by what means he made his style at the same time dignified 
and beautiful.* 

2. The conciseness of Tacitus is proverbial. But an incorrect 
notion has prevailed among some, viz. that this consists mostly in the 
brevity of single expressions, such as resemble the responses of 
oracles. And this style of writing does indeed prevail in the treatise 
on Germany, inasmuch as it is best adapted to description ; and while 
John Mueller and others, who seek a reputation for the same, imitate 
it, they think they are rivalling Tacitus. But, on the contrary, the 
acute judgment and the consummate skill of this writer are seen in this 
very thing, that he adopted this style, so rare, only in treating those 
subjects, the nature of which demanded it, while in other connections 
he is scarcely less fond of full and rounded periods, not being inferior, 
in this respect, to Cicero and Livy. At the commencement of the 
Annals, he hastens, in a series of very brief propositions, to premise 
whatever was important, from which he passes to a very full and 
brilliant period, and thus introduces the history itself, as if he would 
show the difference between the preface and the real history, by a 
sudden change of diction. The orations, inserted in the narrative, 
consist, according to the character of the speaker, sometimes of con- 

* I have been assisted much in this Essay by the Prolegomena of G. Boetticher 
to the Lexicon on Tacitus, Berlin, 1830 ; and by the Excursus ad Tac. Agricolana 
of C. L. Roth, Norimb. 1833. 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 9 

cise sentences, sometimes of rounded periods. And in the narration 
of heroic deeds, battles and debates, he varies his style, according as 
he himself hastens on to more important matters, or desires to urge 
and hurry forward the minds of his readers, or to delay them and 
persuade them to a calmer examination of the subject. Therefore he 
never wearies us by a series of concise sentences, continued beyond 
proper limits, which is a fault of Seneca. 

Tacitus has omitted nothing which would contribute to brevity of 
style. In this he chose to imitate, not so much the oracles, as the 
ancient Roman writers. For as the language of the Greeks was 
made, and, as it were, born to express grace (xapira), so that of the 
Romans contained in it the elements of dignity, brevity and, as it 
were, of authority. In its own nature it was fitted to illustrate that 
common saying : quot verba, tot pondera. I might mention the want 
of the article — a thing to be regretted in other respects — as among 
the chief reasons and sources of this merit, although this is not the 
place for examining this subject more fully. Now Cicero, and the 
writers of his time, disregarded, in a manner, this natural character 
of the Latin tongue, while they attempted to soften the rough power 
and strength of the Roman language by the polish and refinement of 
the Greek. But those writers who adorned the age of the Caesars 
after the time of Tiberius — Seneca and Tacitus — again departed from 
this elegance of style. For they carefully and intelligently cherished 
that style of expression, which the ancient Romans, almost without 
cultivation and under the impulse of their nature, had employed. 
Besides other advantages, they labored to preserve the power of the 
ancient style, in such a way as both to avoid the antique rudeness of 
an uncultivated age, and drop the effeminate verbosity of a subse- 
quent period. 

While therefore Tacitus strove to speak so that every word might 
have its weight, he made use of many, or rather of all kinds of in- 
genious contrivances, not neglecting even the most minute. Nor, 
while I am pursuing this subject, do I entertain any fear of seeming 
to depreciate the ability of Tacitus, as if it were the mark of a weak 
and narrow mind, in so earnest a narration of the most important 
events, to choose his words with a sort of scholarlike care and anxi- 
ety. The foundation and source of so rich a diction was the sublime 
genius of Tacitus, the greatness of his mind, and the strength and 
fervor of his emotions. At the same time, it is well known with 
what almost religious scrupulosity the ancients elaborated, each one for 
himself, their style and language ; and, in so doing, attributed less to 
a sort of divine power and inspiration, (as if words would flow from a 
subject spontaneously.) than to industry and care. Remarkable sto- 



10 ESSAY ON THE 

ries are told even about Thucydides, of such a careful choice respect- 
ing substantives and infinitives ; but Tacitus lived at an age which 
was much richer in the rules of grammar and rhetoric, and, as was 
natural for a Roman, he strove more earnestly than the Greeks to 
render his style as effective as possible. Wherefore to that hurried 
breviloquence, to which he was led by the impulses of his nature, he 
superadded all the ornaments of learning, art and taste, not fearing 
the appearance or the reproach of a labored brevity, but freely reject- 
ing the merit of a plain, pure and natural style. Now this brevity is 
seen in choosing the shortest words which will express the thoughts, 
in omitting as many words as possible, and finally in condensing the 
sentences themselves within the smallest possible compass. 

3. To commence with the smallest matters, he generally prefers the 
shorter forms of words to the longer, sometimes contrary to common 
usage. Few, I think, use simple ut for velut, as if, as he does in 
Ann. II., 34 ; III., 9 ; or for prout, Ann. I., 61 ; Hist. II., 46 : qua 
for quatenus, since, even at the hazard of obscurity, Ann. VI., 10 ; 
XL, 8 ; XV., 72 ; Hist. II., 31 : super for insuper, Hist. II, 34. For 
the same reason he often used ne, where the common rule required 
ut non, e. g., Ann. II., 29. Ita moderans ne lenire neve asperare 
crimina videretur, Add. XL, 15, 29 ; XII., 47 ; XVL, 4 ; Hist. III., 
11. If we can put confidence in the MSS. he also often used que 
for quoque. See in Ann. IV., 74 ; VI., 33 ; XII., 35. 

Tacitus often manifests a sort of dislike for substantives ending in 
tio ; for besides their length they often seem meager and jejune. 
He therefore prefers aemulatus, dispositus, advectus, and such like 
words, to aemulatio, and those of a similar form. Hence I have 
defended diver sus in Ann. XIII. , 9 ; and pulsus in Hist. IV., 18, as 
the true reading. Elsewhere he is wont also to employ the primitive 
noun in place of the derivative, as in Ann. VI., 5, Dial. 3, fabulae 
for confabulaliones ; G. 26, fenus for feneratio ; Hist. IL, 2, auden- 
tioribus spatiis for spatiationibus. And since the use of deponent 
verbs had long prevailed, by which means the language was virtually 
robbed of an equal number of passive verbs and thereby impoverished, 
Tacitus did not hesitate to return to the ancient signification of such 
words, and to use passives that were obsolete in his age, gaining the 
advantage of brevity, and, at the same time, the appearance of an- 
tiquity. Hence adipisci is used passively in Ann. XV., 12 ; opperiri, 
Ann. XL, 26 ; ulcisci, Ann. I., 9 ; and palari, Hist. III., 80 ; perhaps 
also fateri, Dial. 25. 

4. The use of simple words instead of compound is very extensive, 
in which Tacitus vies with poets. The principle of this license is 
no other than to substitute the genus for the species ; for instance, 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 11 

quaerere instead of acquirere, Ann. L, 35 ; instead of conquirere, 
Ann. VI., 1 ; instead of exquirere, Ann. II., 53 ; instead of requirere 
= desiderare, Hist. IV., 6. Hence this exchange is usually made 
with a loss of definiteness, but with advantage in regard to brevity. 
I will mention a few examples, unique indeed, but yet allowed by 
all. Hist, L, 84, congestu lapidum stare = constare. — Ann. XIV., 21, 
struere = destruere. — Ann. XV., 14, cernerent = decernerent — G., 2, 
tristem cultu = ad incolendum. — Ann. XIV., 4, pectori haerens = 
inhaerens. — Hist. HI., 57, miscebant = immiscebant. — Hist. III., 25, 
pulsos = impulses . — Hist. I., 35, sistens = obsistens. — Ann. XV., 
50, cepisse = suscepisse. In many other places I have restored this 
usage from the MSS>, where other editors have not ventured to do 
so : e. g., Agr. 4, Sublime et rectum ingenium, i. e., erectum. — Hist. 
IV., 20, Omnibus portis rumpunt, where the common editions have 
erumpunt. — Hist. IV., 81, Postremo aestimari a medicis jubet, where 
Ernesti has preferred existimari. — Hist. IV., 48, Si pauca supra 
petiero ab initio, Edd. repetiero. Perhaps also cursaturus should be 
preferred to incursaturus in A. 1. 

5. The dignity of the Latin language is impaired by nothing more 
than by a frequent use of particles, pronouns, or auxiliary verbs ; on 
the other hand it is increased when nouns follow nouns or verbs di- 
rectly, so that the idea seems to be evident from the simple force of 
the words. Thus originate those sentences which strike our ears, 
and those of the Greeks, as too cumbrous and heavy, since there is 
no pause allowed after the separate parts and words. But the same 
expressions had a very pleasing sound to the Romans, and especially 
to Tacitus, as the following : Agrippina aequi impatiens, dominandi 
avida, virilibus curis feminarum xitia exuerat, Ann. VI., 25. In this 
example, whatever is heavy was produced spontaneously without 
any design or study. But weight and stateliness may be promoted 
by an intentional effort of the writer. With this view Tacitus omits 
the more unimportant words oftener, and with more studious design, 
than any other writer. And first he refrains from the use of prepo- 
sitions, satisfied with the power of the case alone. Hence ab or ex 
is omitted contrary to common usage. Hist. V., 23, Commeatus Gallia 
adventantes, cf. III., 15. — Agr. 18, Cujus possessione revocatum. — 
G. 14, Exigunt principis sui liberalitate ilium bellatorem equum. — 
Hist. I., 55. Non tamen quisquam in modum concionis aut suggestu 
locutus. — III., 29, Cum super] acta tela testudine laberentur. 

Hence I have restored the shorter reading of the manuscripts in 
Agr. 19 : Ut civitates proximis hibernis in remota et avia deferrent, 
and Hist. HI., 74 : Clamor e proximis orto. In both places the editions 
have a proximis. 



12 ESSAY ON THE 

In the same way the dative is very often used for the ablative with 
ab, e. g., Hist. III., 70 : Ne militibus interficeretur. Moreover, in 
is omitted, e. g., Hist. V., 5 : Vitisque aurea templo reperta. Hist. I., 

13 : Hi discordes et rebus minoribus sibi quisque tendentes. 

Hence I have erased in of the common editions as often as it is 
wanting in the MSS. Hist. II., 33 : Imperia ducum incerto reliquerat. 
Hist. I., 68 : Ipsi (in) medio vagi, as Ann. II., 52. Hist. II., 59 : 
Appulsu litoris trucidatus. 

Moreover, ad or in is used or omitted promiscuously before the ac- 
cusative. I pass by those examples in which a preposition enters 
into the. composition of the verb, as, advolvi genua ; although even 
such have given offence, as Hist. III., 43, Stoechadas insulas affertur ; 
and c. 50, Omniaque quae agenda forent . . . aderat ; for in both these 
places the old editions inserted ad. Very often the early editors si- 
lently inserted a preposition, which, upon the authority of the manu- 
scripts, I have either erased, or advised to erase, or ought myself to 
have erased. Hist. III., 7 : (in) majus accipitur. Agr. 10 : (in) 
universum aestimanti. The following are more peculiar to Tacitus : 
Hist. I., 45 : Marium Celsum . . . (ad) supplicium expostulabant. 
Hist. II., 36 : Macer (ad) exitium poscebatur. 

I suspect that I shall hardly persuade many that Tacitus makes 
use of this license ; but, at all events, it was worth while to set forth 
a number of examples, and the unanimity of the MSS. And surely 
it would be wonderful harmony between books, if the same error 
were so often repeated. Each one, according to his own taste, will 
concede to Tacitus more or less of this liberty of accomplishing, by 
the power of the cases alone, most purposes for which other writers 
think prepositions necessary. I only add, Hist. II., 63 : Ne periculo 
principis famam clementiae affectaret ; cf. IV., 69. Hist. II., 70 : 
Vulgus clamore et gaudio deflectere via. 

6. The use of the genitive is likewise somewhat more extensive 
with Tacitus than with other Latin authors, since, by its assistance, 
he could dispense with prepositions. What other writer has used 
jus libertorum, Hist. II., 92, or jus militum, Ann. XL, 33, for in lib- 
ertos, in milites ? 

Tacitus seeks the same brevity in the use of the dative, which he 
is wont to substitute, with far greater freedom than other writers, for 
the preposition ad, with the accusative. He says, in the same sense, 
Ann. II., 58, Neu proceres . . . ad discordias traheret, and Agr. 12, 
Per principes factionibus et siudiis trahuntur ; or, Hist. II., 45, In 
lacrimas effusus, and I., 69, lacrimis effusus ; or, Hist. IV., 5, Ut 
jlrmior adversus fortuita, and, A. Sb.jirmus adversis. With charac- 
teristic love of variety he has brought together both constructions in 



STVLE OF TACITUS. 13 

Ann. XI V. , 38, Adversa pravitati ipsius, prospera ad fortunam 
referebat. 

I will add some instances in which the more unwonted use of the 
dative has, from its unfrequency, escaped the notice of commenta- 
tors, or may, from its resemblance to the ablative, escape the notice 
of the reader ; Hist. I., 89, Pacts adversa reipublicae pertinuere ; 
G., 38, Propriis nationibus discrcti ; as, Hist. IV., 16, Propriis cu- 
neis componit ; Hist. L, 77, Sacerdotiis recoluit, i. e., in sacerdotia res- 
tituit ; Hist. I., 55. 76, Sacramento adigere. Moreover, he uses the 
dative for adversus, with the accusative ; A. 30,famae defendit, i. e., 
adversus famam. On the contrary, he sometimes prefers a preposi- 
tion to the ordinary dative, when it will serve his purpose ; Ann. II., 
39, Forma haud dissimili in dominum erat ; and he substitutes in 
vulgus for the dative vulgo, see in Hist. I., 71. 

7. He is no less sparing in the use of conjunctions, and is peculiarly 
fond of asyndeta. The style of the Latins differs very much in the use 
of asyndeta from that of the Greeks. For since the Greeks make use 
of very many exceedingly small conjunctions, and such as often do not 
even form a syllable, as in elision 6i and ri, they were not accustom- 
ed, merely for the sake of brevity or convenience, to omit conjunc- 
tions, but they omit them as often as it will subserve the purposes of 
rhetoric. It is different with the Latins ; since their conjunctions 
have a fuller sound, and, in their length, equal many nouns and 
verbs, as autem, quidem, igitur, it was worth while, for the sake 
of rapidity and conciseness, to be sparing in the use of them. Thence 
the books of the Latins abound in asyndeta, even where they have 
no peculiar significance or rhetorical power. Owing to the unprece- 
dented frequency with which he uses this liberty, the style of Tacitus 
is considered, for the most part, concise, and similar to that which the 
French call style coupe. For its character is seen, not only in its 
refraining from the longer forms of propositions, but also in its gen- 
erally omitting connectives between the separate propositions. 

The peculiarity of Tacitus is seen in his frequent omission of the 
two conjunctions et and sed. Most Latin writers omit the copulative et 
as often as, by the rhetorical figure asyndeton, three or more separate 
parts of a sentence are connected together, since they dislike to use 
many conjunctions in the same sentence. But Tacitus joins two 
members in the same way, in accordance with a custom of the an- 
cient Romans, which Niebuhr has noticed.* Examples are too nu- 
merous to require specification. Moreover, it is customary with 
Tacitus to omit sed, especially after negative propositions. Ann. IV., 



* Rom. Gesch., T. i., p. 326, ed. third. 
2 



14 ESSAY ON THE 

35, Non modo liber tas, etiam libido impunita ; Add. III., 19 ; XVI., 
29 ; Hist. II., 27. Hence, without reason, Lipsius has urged the in- 
sertion of sed in Dial. 8. Nee hoc Mis alterius ter mille sestertium 
praestat ; ipsa eloquentia, evidently like Agr. 37. Some MSS. also 
omit .sed in G. 10, Non solum apud plebem sed apud proceres, apud 
sacerdotes. 

Of relative conjunctions ut is sometimes omitted by asyndeton, and 
not by ellipsis. For, in Ann. III., 10, Petitum est, cognitionem re~ 
ciperet, is not properly an ellipsis. And the same construction is 
found in many other passages. 

8. At this day, indeed, when the science of grammar has begun to 
be so much improved, no one will call such examples ellipses. I 
now pass to ellipses proper. 

Tacitus omits auxiliary verbs almost without any distinction of 
tense or mode. A. 16, Ac velut pacti ; ibid. 1, ni incur saturus, scil. 
essern. Add. Hist. II., 42 ; Hist. II., 76, quod inchoaturi, scil. sunt, 
where the editions have inchoalur. The following may justly be 
considered somewhat harsh; Hist. IV., 7, Satis Marcello (sit) quod 
Neronem in exitium tot innocentium impulerit. Hist. IV., 55, So- 
cius (esse) jactabat. 

He is also accustomed to omit many other words, and the more 
general the signification of each, the more frequently it is omitted, as 
words of doing. Hist. L, 36, Omnia serviliter pro dominations 
Thus must be explained without correction, Agr. 27, At Brittanni 
non virtute sed occasione et arte duels (factum esse) rati ; coll. Hist. 
II., 19. Numberless ellipses of this kind might be mentioned of 
words of speaking, thinking, fearing, and going, not entirely pecu- 
liar to Tacitus, since Cicero also has a similar usage, e. g., N. D. II., 
4, Augures rem ad senatum, (tulerunt) ; senatus ut abdicarent con- 
sules (decrevit) ; abdicarunt. There are many more in his letters 
to Atticus w T hich exhibit even some appearance of haste. Where- 
fore, I do not understand why any one should wish to change, A. 9, 
Nullam ultra potestatis personam, scil. agebat. Much less has 
Ernesti rightly forced agere into c. 19, Nihil per libertos servosque 
publicae rei. 

I pass by other common ellipses, as, of causa and potius. One 
that is rare has escaped the notice of commentators, in Hist. III., 10, 
Et ut proditionis (scil. reum) ira militum in Flavianum incubuit. 
9. Brachylogy (ppax^oyia) resembles ellipsis very closely. In el- 
lipsis, words must be supplied evidently from some external source ; 
these which are omitted through brachylogy are implied in the ad- 
joining words, and must be supplied from what either precedes or 
follows. Of this figure there are three kinds. The first is when the 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 15 

same word, that has been once expressed, must be understood again ; 
as, Hist. III., 70, Simula lionem prorsus et imaginem deponendi im- 
perii (scil. imaginem, speciem) fuisse ; G. 19, Ne (scil. maritum) 
tanquam maritum, sed tanquam matrimonium ament. See in Hist. 
IV., 5 ; Agr. 20. Also words must often be understood again after 
a longer distance, though the obvious meaning of the sentence 
requires the repetition. Hist. II., 21, Moles perfringendis (scil. 
pluteis et vineis,) obruendisque hostibus expediunt, unless for the 
sake of concinnity, operibus must be supplied. Hist. V., 6, Praeci- 
puum montium Libanon erigit, scil. Judaea ; A. 10, Dispecta est et 
Thule, quam hactenus, scil. invenit domuitque. 

Another kind of brachylogy is when, in some word, a similar word, 
springing from the same root, is implied, so that one case must be 
supplied from another, one mode from another, a verb from a noun, 
and vice versa, and in fine, homogeneous words from homogeneous, 
for the purpose of completing the sense. Hist. III., 9, In Vitellium 
ut inimici (scil. inimica) praesumpsere ; G. 20, Pares (paribus) 
validaeque (validis) miscentur ; Hist. I., 37, Plus rapuit Icelus 
quam quod Polycliti . . . (scil. rapientes or praedati) perierunt ; 
Hist. I., 32, Tradito more quemcumque principem adulandi licentia 
acclamationem, scil. adulabantur ; Hist. IV., 24, Flaccus lectos . . . 
legato tradit ut quam maximis per ripam itineribus celeraret, ipse 
?iavibus (sc. celeraturus.) invalidus corpore, invisus militibus. 

Also simple words are supplied from compound, and one compound 
word from another. Ann. I., 17. Hinc . . . tentoria (scil. emi) hinc 
vacationes munerum redimi ; Hist. I., 8, Cluvius Rufus, vir facun- 
dus et pads artibus, (scil. expertus,) bellis inexpertus. To the 
same head must be referred the following : Hist. III., 46, Castra le- 
gionum exscindere parabant, (scil. et exscidissent,) ni Mucianus 
sextam legionem opposuisset ; A. 13, Agitasse Caium Caesarem de 
intranda Brittannia, satis constat, (et intraturum fuisse) ni velox 
mgenio . . . et ingentes adversus Germaniam conatus frustra fuis- 

sent ; Hist. II., 68 ; A. 4, Se studium philosophiae acrius 

hausisse, (et porro hausturum fuisse,) ni prudentia matris coercuis- 
set. Those who would translate such expressions briefly and clear- 
ly into the English, should substitute for the hypothetical clauses but 
with the indicative. Finally, in the third kind of brachylogy, a word 
conveying an idea in contrast with some adjoining word must be sup- 
plied. Hist. II., 30, Hinc aemulatio ducibus : Caecina (Valentem) 
ut foedum et maculosum ; ille, (Caecinam) ut tumidum et vanum 
irridebant ; Hist. II., 74, Esse privatis cogitationibus progressum 
(et regressum) et prout velint plus minusve sumi exfortuna. See 
Ann. I., 55 ; Hist. II., 87 ; IV., 80. 



16 ESSAY ON THE 

10. Zeugma approaches quite nearly to brachylogy. The follow- 
ing are examples : Hist. II., 80, Caesar em (vocare) et omnia prin- 
cipals vocabula cumulare. See C. Roth, in Agr. Exc. XXXII. 

There is a species of the same zeugma in that custom, surprising to 
our ears, and scarcely imitable in our language, of uniting the same 
verb or word in one sense with one, and in another sense with another 
part of the sentence. Pindar took the lead in this : sXev <5' Oivon&ov 
(Slav napOivov rs evvewov, he slew (Enomaus and (married) the virgin ; 
and in like manner Soph. Trach., 353. Like this is Hist. I., 67, 
Plus sanguinis ac praedae Caecina hausit ; Hist. II., 32, Brittan- 
nicum militem hoste et mari distineri ; Agr. 25, Siharum et mon- 
tium profunda; Agr. 45, Nos Maurici Rusticique visus, nos inno- 
centi sanguine Senecio perfudit. 

11. Another means of conciseness is that grammatical figure 
which we, at this day, are beginning to call pragnantia — a word 
quite recently formed and a barbarous substantive — but yet appro- 
priate, and withal necessary, which the more strict, if they choose, 
may call structura praegnans. Very often a secondary idea lies 
concealed in some noun or verb, unseen indeed, but breathing like 
the foetus in the womb, and frequently also very forcible. I could 
wish that some one of the great grammarians had defined, in an ap- 
propriate treatise, the compass and limits of this figure, that I might 
have some authority to follow ; but now each, according to his own 
humor, is accustomed to use a vague and undefined word ; a privi- 
lege which I shall claim for myself. Both nouns and verbs, and 
likewise adverbs, are employed pr&gnanter. Thus he says cupido 
for pecuniae cupido, in Ann. XH., 57 ; Hist. I., 66 ; and on the other 
hand pecunia in the same sense, Hist. III., 41. The following come 
under the same class, Hist. L, 85, Occulto habitu, scil. animi; for it 
ought not to be understood of the assumption of a false dress ; Hist. 
3., 19, Cumulos, scil. corporum; Hist. IV., 86, Modestiae imagine in 
altitudinem (silentii) conditus ; Hist. IV., 72, Stare integram sedem, 
scil. belli ; Dial. 6, Publico, scil. judicio ; Ingenium = commentum 
ingenii, in Hist. III., 28; Gaudio fungi = gaudii significatione or 
gratulatione, Hist. II., 55 ; Reposcentibus prosper a, i. e., prosperorum 
rationem, Hist. III., 13; Qui naves, qui classem, qui mare expecta- 
bant, Agr. 18, i. e., aggressionem per mare apertum ac non per 
f return. In like manner with these words : Hist. I., 76, mansit, scil. 
in fide ; Agr. 45, perfudit, scil. horrore ; Agr. 25, complecti, scil. 
bello, as, Hist. I., 36, Agr. 18, praesumpsere, scil. spe. 

. Frequently also adverbs or ablatives, datives or accusatives used 
like adverbs, bear some attributive, either adjective or participle, as it 
were, concealed in them. This is evidently contrary to Cicero's 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 1*7 

custom, who preferred to call his work libri dc qfficiis scripti, rather 
than to omit the participle. Now Tacitus, for the sake of rapidity in 
his narrative, left such words to be supplied by the reader, as often 
as he thought there could be- no danger of mistake : Hist. I., 31, 
Longinum exarmant, quia non ordine militiae (superior) sed e Galbae 
amicis . . . erat ; Hist. III., 82, Vitelliani sola desperations (adjuti) 
ruebant ; Hist. IV., 84, Plurimi Ditem patrem insignibus, quae in 
ipso manifesta aut per ambages (significata) conjectant; Hist. V., 5, 
Judaei mente sola (visibile) unumque numen intelligunt; Hist. I., 80, 
Pessimus quisque in occasionem praedae, scil. intentus; Agr. 30, 
Spent in nosiris manibus (positum) habebant ; Hist. III. 62, Exerci- 
tus immane quantum (aucto) animo exitium valentis ut Jinem belli 
accepit; Hist. I., 83, Pietas vestra acrius quam considerate (demon- 
strata) excitaviL 

A few of these examples have escaped the notice of commenta- 
tors ; others, through a forgetfulness of this license, have been in- 
correctly understood : Agr. 5, Electus quern contubernio (dignum) 
existimaret ; Hist. III., 33, Defossa eruere, faces in manibus 
(gerentes), like the English " torch in hand." Nor ought the fol- 
lowing to be thought harsh, Hist. I., 31, Alexandriam praemissos at- 
que inde rursus (revocatos) refovebat. 

Frequent also is that kind of praegnantia to which I may venture 
to give the name structura contracta, of which the most familiar 
examples are Oiympia vine ere, or pontem jungere. In Tacitus I 
find navare bellum, i. e., operam navare bello ; Hist. IV., 37, ad 
liberandum obsidium ; Hist. II., 60, Fidem ah solvit ; Hist. V., 11, 
Proelia serebant, i. e., manus conserebant proeliis ; Hist. II., 34, 
Ne miles segne otium tereret, i. e., segni otio tempus. Some- 
times he has the same, even when he gains nothing in brevity. 
Hist. III., 56, Ut nube atra diem obtenderent, which differs not 
more from the common ut nubem atram diet obtenderent, than 
urbem muris circumdare differs from urbi muros. See Hist. II., 2, 
Formam deae paucis disserere. Editors ought to have recognised 
the same usage in Hist. III., 3, Hue illuc tracturus interpretatio- 
nem, i. e., res interpretatione. To the same head I refer, Hist. I., 42, 
In utrumque latus transverberatus. 

12. By attraction not brevity indeed, but rapidity is favored; the 
number of words is not diminished, but of pauses, and the members 
of the sentences are more closely connected together. Nouns are 
attracted from their state of apposition, and are forced into the rela- 
tion of adjectives. Hist. I., 65, Uno amne discretis, i. e., una re, 
amne ; Hist IV., 56, Ceterum vulgus, i. e., ceteri, vulgus ; Hist. 
III. 41, Aderant vis et pecunia et mentis fortunae novissima libido. 

2* 



18 ESSAY ON THE 

To the same class belong, Agr. 17, Cum Cerialis quidem alieriu 
successoris curam . . . obruisset, and, G. 25, Cetera domus offici 
uxor ac liberi exsequuntur. To destroy the attraction by inserting 
a comma here, may adapt the construction to our ears, but woulu 
not exhibit the thought in the light in which it was viewed by the 
ancients. In the same way I read. Hist. II., 27, Quam altiore ab 
initio repetam, i. e., altius, ab initio. 

To a similar attraction belong nominatives with infinitives, after 
the example of the Greek and Latin poets : Hist. IV., 55, Socius 
(esse) jactabat ; Hist. IV., 40, Cognitus est confugisse ; Hist. II., 
74, Legiones secuturae sperabantur ; Hist. IV., 23, Vis et arma 
satis placebant, i. e., vim et anna satis fore placebat ; and, II., 76, 
Ipse qui suadet considerandus est adjiciatne, etc. Agr. 43, has 
been correctly restored, Momenta ipsa deficientis . . . nunciata 
constabant ; Hist. I., 84, Muta ista et inanima intercidere ac re- 
parari promiscua sunt. 

Of the same class the following is a very common specimen : 
Hist. II., 82, Sufficere videbatur . . . pars copiarum et dux Mucia- 
nus et Vespasiani nomen et nihil arduum fatis, i. e., et quod nihil 
arduum esset fatis ; Hist. V., 21, Obstitit formido et remiges per 
alia militiae munia dispersi. 

13. Thus far I have examined those sources of brevity which 
may be referred to the established rules of grammar. There are 
other examples which cannot be explained under a grammatical term. 
For example, sometimes the narrative hastens forward so rapidly that 
it includes two different events in the same expression : Hist. L, 46, 
Laco praefectus tanquam in insulam seponeretur ab evocato quern 
ad caedem ejus Otho praemiserat confossus; Ann. XVI., 13, Qui 
dum assident, dum defientis saepe eodem rogo cremabantur. In 
the latter, the state of disease, and in the former, the act of going 
forth, which were intermediate, are passed by in silence. Add 
Hist. III., 29. Also Hist. II., 68, is obscure for the same reason : 
Ludicro initio, ni numerus caesorum invidiam Vitellio (MS. bello) 
auxisset. For the primary idea, ni numerus caesorum magnus 
fuisset, lurks concealed as it were in a single word. And Tacitus 
quite often did not condescend to relate those things the knowledge 
of which was necessary for clearly understanding the order of events, 
provided that readers, sufficiently attentive and discerning, could 
follow him by their own judgment or sagacity. Thus in Hist. I., 77, 
it is said that when Otho assigned the consulship to Vopiscus, pleri- 
que Viennensium honori datum interpretabantur, where the reason 
for such a construction cannot be clearly seen, unless we decide that 
Vopiscus was an inhabitant of -Vienna. Yet that fact is nowhere 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 19 

stated. I have noticed a similar example in Hist. II., 71 . But I know 
of no more remarkable instance than Agr. 24, where the words nave 
prima transgressus were obscure, until it was discovered that 
Agricola had gone over (the previous autumn) from Britain to the 
continent, and so to Rome, a fact which Tacitus does not mention. 

14. Since now such a studied brevity seems to involve an excess 
of freedom, and to favor an abundance of materials, rather than to 
subserve the beauties of style, Tacitus makes a compensation by 
laboring intently to adorn his language, in order that he may not lose 
the praise of eloquence. 

Of the ancient authors of history, Caesar wrote in a style, pure, 
graceful and devoid of all ornament, not departing from the ordinary 
modes of expression on the one part, and yet on the other avoiding 
the vulgarity of colloquial language by a somewhat artificial compo- 
sition. Sallust was fond of antiquated expressions and wrote in a 
style of peculiar gravity, still carefully preserving simplicity. Livy 
applied ornament to his diction, and sought the praise of eloquence. 
But Tacitus believed that a kind of magnificence and sublimity of 
style was peculiarly adapted to the dignity of history. And in this, 
indeed, he resembled Thucydides, who himself also had cultivated a 
style widely removed from the ordinary eloquence of other writers ; 
not for want of genius, or through ignorance of letters, as some 
suppose, but intentionally and understandingly, that he might not 
seem to have furnished the lovers of pleasure with a mere dycovicfia 
is to -napaxpwa* In other respects there is almost a greater differ- 
ence between these writers, than resemblance.f For the Grecian 
writer, in discussions and orations, is especially and peculiarly con- 
densed and bold, though in his boldness approaching nearer to 
the austerity of philosophers than to the ornament of poets ; while in 
narration his style is very clear and flowing. Tacitus, on the con- 
trary, shaped his narrative to the cast of his own mind, therein rival- 
ling the vigor and boldness of poets ; but as often as he interwove 
orations, he contented himself with obeying the ordinary rules of 
eloquence. In fine, there is no essential difference between Ins 
style and that of poetry ; and strangely inconsistent are they, who 
refuse to Tacitus the use of any word or construction, while they 
freely grant the same to poets. And rarely indeed does he, while 
laboring to be brief, become obscure, as is usually the case in a 

* I. e., " a mere prize essay for temporary applause." The expression is quoted 
from the Introduction of Thucydides' History, in which, as he says, he gives to 
the public icr/fyta is del n&Wov, rj ay&viona es to -rrapa^pTJfta. Ed. 

t Fried. Roth has written an excellent essay upon these writers, Verglei- 
chende Betrachtungen tiber Thucydides und Tacitus, Munchen, 1812. 



20 ESSAY ON THE 

matter so difficult and hazardous, (arid when he seems to be so, it 
happens oftener through the fault of transcribers than through his 
own) : though not unfrequently when he strives to be sublime, he 
becomes, not bombastic indeed, but he is thought to depart too far 
from a proper simplicity. 

15. And first, the style of Tacitus is terse, polished and elaborate. 
Rarely, in comparison with his frequent use of other idioms, do we 
find in his works those anacolutha, the use of which with other 
writers presents the appearance, sometimes of a pleasing negligence, 
sometimes of a disagreeable carelessness. I have noticed a few, 
e. g., in Ann. XII., 52 ; Hist. III., 60 ; IV., 12, etc. 

If he sometimes so arranged his words as to appear to have 
mingled different constructions, it ought not to be supposed that he 
did this without a design : Ann. III., 5, T erf err e non toleravit, as 
Dial. 3, Maturare editionem festino, or, G. 30, Initium inchoare. 
This appeared to him somewhat stronger than that common accumu- 
lation of words, pertulit ac toleravit, which Cicero would prefer, as 
if this latter would add to the number of words, while his own ar- 
rangement would increase their power. 

The concurrence of genitives, which is so annoying wherever it is 
found, he carefully avoided, by employing the figure Hendiadys. 
Of the nature and advantage of this figure C. Roth has treated in a 
learned and critical manner. 

16. Moreover he paid a tribute of regard to ornament, in that he 
did not use special or trite words, particularly those which are called 
technical terms. He avoided these even when he thus lost some- 
thing in brevity. Hence, by a sort of circumlocution, he preferred 
to write, Hist. III., 62, ludicrum juvenum rather than Juvenalia. 
In Dial. 32, he says, almost obscurely, jus civitatis for jure civili; 
whence has arisen confidence in the conjecture of Bach, which pro- 
poses as a correction, in Hist. IV., 4, de hello civiurn for the corrupt 
civilium, and the common correction civili. Perhaps the Medicean 
MS. reads correctly, in Hist. II., 89, ponte Mulvi, where the editions 
have Mulvio ; since in Ann. I., 8 ; III., 4., he says campus Martis. 

Hence in the distinction of Latin synonyms, the authority of Taci- 
tus is more suspicious than that of poets. For he disregards (partic- 
ularly in antitheses) and spurns set and trite words. 

Kindred to this peculiarity is his rejection of foreign words, par- 
ticularly from the Greek, even though they had been naturalized by 
the Latins. Nowhere, except in the Dialogue, does he use the term 
philosophi : he says, sapientes, although the ideas are unlike. He 
rarely uses the term poeta : he generally says vales. Rejecting asylum, 
he says subsidium. There is a remarkable example of this kind in 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 21 

Ann. XV., 71, Milichus praemiis dilatus, Conservatoris nomen Graeco 
ejus rei vocdbulo assumpsit. Yet he does not maintain so rigid and 
offensive an observance of this peculiarity as to avoid the use of 
whatever has a foreign sound ; he admits some such words, as tropaea, 
asylum, chlamys, catapulta, acinaces. 

17. He hesitated not to revive ancient words, and forms of words, 
which had been condemned by the refinement of the Ciceronian and 
the Augustan age, believing that there is more brilliancy in that which 
savors of antiquity. Editors have retained the datives senatu, nuru, 
luxu, as also in Ann. IV., 55, Per si for Persei ; but at the same 
time they have rejected many ancient forms, lest Tacitus should ap- 
pear too unlike Ciqero. In Ann. IV., 32, the Medicean MS. has 
compossivere, and not composuere ; and Ann. XIII. , 40 ; Hist. III., 
22, cornum not cornu. It is easy indeed to correct such expressions 
according to the usage of Cicero, and to ridicule and charge with 
superstition those who rest their judgment upon the authority of a 
single MS. But if it is right carefully to pursue truth even in the 
smallest matters, if it is right to reverence even with pious feeling not 
only the sentiments but the literary tastes and little preferences of 
great geniuses, there is nothing — in matters which cannot be settled 
by any laws of human reason nor decided by any acuteness of judg- 
ment — there is nothing which I will trust sooner than even a single 
MS. It should, therefore, be well considered, whether, as in Germ. 
24, juvenior is retained without any other example ; so in Ann. VI., 
17, venditio et emitio ought not to be retained, for which emptio is 
now read ; and in Ann. IV., 66, 1 have preferred to change the cor- 
rupt telerant into tetulerant rather than into tulerant. Editors have 
retained other readings also, which had long since gone out of date, 
as Hist. I., 31, necdum for nondum ; and Ann. III., 2, munera fungi. 
Nay, even the genitive vis has succeeded in maintaining its place, 
Dial. 26. And yet Ann. XIV., 7, expergens; Ann. I., 1, false; Ann. 
II., 14, the singular sacri for hosliae ; Hist. I., 53, decori juventa, 
which are in no respect more unusual, have not obtained the same 
indulgence. It is surely a questionable scrupulosity which refuses 
such words to a writer who desired to be unique, and who did not 
even obtain an imitator, by a comparison with whom one can deter- 
mine what he did and what he did not approve. 

On the other hand, Tacitus, in my opinion, coined few new words ; 
unless, perchance, some one may think that all those words, which 
are found in his writings alone, were of course originated by him. 
But it is extremely difficult to decide whether Tacitus was the first 
to use any word, or whether we read it for the first time in his wri- 
tings. So long as he corresponds to all the rules for forming words, 



22 ESSAY ON THE 

60 far at least I think we ought to grant the indulgence to a writer, 
who is universally acknowledged to have entertained no very great 
fiorror of the charge of novelty- Irreverentia, improsper y do indeed 
savor of novelty, as the invidentia of Cicero does, but they are con- 
ceded to Tacitus by all. I have not hesitated to propose by way of 
correction, in Hist. II., 21, the strange frequentative retortant. In 
Ann. XVI., 21, expectabilis is sufficiently defended by the authority 
of Tertullian ; and I do not regret having recommended confestinan- 
tius in Ann. XV., 3, and exapertae in Hist. V., 13; or having de- 
fended indictus favor in Hist. III., 44. 

18. But as an innovator in the construction of words he was ex- 
ceedingly fruitful. He delighted in the unusual, as if itself an 
ornament, even though he gained nothing either in brevity or grace 
of style ; as if he remembered the precept of Horace, 

Dixeris egregie, notum si callida verbum 
Rediderit junctura novum. 

I know not what other Latin author would have said utUis pro nobis, 
Agr. 12. I refrain from other examples, as they are obvious in every 
part of his works. In the use of the historical infinitive also, he 
differs from other writers by transferring it to present circumstances 
and customs of long standing. I would not have believed it, had not 
three instances conspired to prove it, still unchanged by all the per- 
tinacious industry of editors, who, while they dispose of separate ex- 
amples, have forgotten the others. These are Germ. 7, audiri; 
Agr. 34, mere ; and Dial. 30, insumere. I am inclined to think a 
fourth ought to be added, Ann. III., 54, Tot a majoribus repertae 
leges . . . contemptu abolitae securiorem luxum facere, where editors 
have fecere ; not to mention those places in which I have recalled the 
usual infinitives from the MSS., Ann. I., 20; II., 2. 38; VI., 18; 
Hist. IV., 20 ; to which I ought to add Hist. II., 95, Facem Augustales 
subdere ; and III., 17, Quo pudore haud plures quam centum equites 
resistere ; and V., 10, Pace per Italiam parta el externae curae redire, 
where editions have subdidere, and restitere, and rediere. For no 
peculiarity of the Latin language might be expected to be more 
pleasing to Tacitus, none can be imagined better adapted to his style, 
so that I do not wonder that, in using it, he sometimes dared to go 
beyond proper limits. He may have shown audacity, and almost 
violence, but it would be a mark of even greater audacity and ex- ( 
travagance for us, who were born so many ages after him, in oppo- 
sition to so many examples, which are defended by the authority of 
the MSS., and which not even the genius of the language convicts 
of fault, to attempt forcibly to abridge this license, merely from a 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 23 

comparison with other writers, to whom our author intended to be 
unlike. 

Tacitus indulges in Greek constructions, such as are used only by 
a few, or by himself alone. For ancient writers, from the com- 
mencement of the Graeco-Latin literature, had introduced many 
Graecisms into the Latin language, most of which the following age 
dropped in order to introduce others in their stead. See Agr. 34, 
Ceterorum Britannorum fugacissimi, an expression which the elder 
Pliny had used before. Also Hist. IV., 28, Id nomen appellantur ; 
and Dial. 18, the words, pro Catone magis, resemble the Greek. 

19. Tacitus exerted himself particularly to secure continuity, so 
much so that he rarely neglected it, and some portions he adorned 
with exquisite art by the use of this rhetorical beauty. He even 
added superfluous words, provided they would contribute to concin- 
nity ; as Hist. II., 72, Quidam militum err ore veri seu turbarum 
studio certatim aggregabantur. He even disregarded the rules of 
grammar in his fondness for this ornament : e. g., Ann. IV., 3, Ad 
conjugii spent, consortium regni et necem mariti impulit, where the 
idea of consortium ought to depend upon spem, and therefore would 
regularly be in the genitive. 

He was careful to close his periods with well-chosen clausules, 
whence that disagreement with grammatical rules in Ann. XIV., 16, 
Species carminum . . . non uno fluens ; and Germ. 5, Pecorum fe- 
cunda sed plerumque improcera. Furthermore he observed the law 
of variety with solicitous care, sometimes for the sake of euphony, 
as Ann. II., 20, quibus — quis ; sometimes to avoid the appearance of 
poverty in forms of expression. In this way he has sometimes 
troubled the reader, Ann. XV., 71, Verginium Rufum claritudo 
nominis expulit ; nam Verginius studia juvenum eloquentia, Musonius 
praeceptis sapientiae fovebat. In Hist. LI., 87, he employs the same 
artifice, Calonum numerus amplior, procacissimis etiam inter servos 
lixarum ingeniis ; where he puts lixae instead of calones, in the last 
clause, for variety, both classes (cooks and campboys) being em- 
braced under each name. But he is particularly fond of varying the 
construction by enallage ; e. g., Hist. II., 79, Ilia Syriae, hoc Ju- 
daeae caput est; Agr. 33,ut . . decorum infrontem, itafugientibus 
periculosissima. 

Very often he shows his love of variety in passing from the active 
to the passive, and vice versa : Hist. IV., 77 ; Germ. 29, Nam nee 
tributis contemnuntur, nee publicanus adterit ; and Hist. III., 56, 
Ignarus militiae, improvidus consiliis, where editions have consilii. 

Frequently he varies the form of construction, as if for no other 
purpose than to exhibit the richness of his mother tongue, and to 



24 ESSAY ON THE 

show that the freedom of Latin writers could be abridged by no rigid 
and arbitrary rules: e. g., Ann. I., 18, Plurimi detrita tegmina et 
nudum corpus exprobantes ; Hist. IV. 77, Neque aliud excusandum 
habeo, quam quod vos Gallici foederis oblitos praedixerim, memoriam 
Romani sacramenti tenere credidi. C. Roth has collected and ex- 
plained many examples in Agr. Ex. XIII. 

He also makes frequent use of the figures of rhetoric, in order to 
render his style brilliant, particularly of the antithesis: Hist. I.. 
36, Omnia serviliter pro dominatione ; Ann. II., 52, Spe victoriae 
indued sunt ut vincerentur ; Hist. L, 65, Uno amne discretis 
connexum odium. Alliterations also, to which Latin authors are 
somewhat tempted by the very nature of their language : e. g., Ann. 
I., 51, si poenitentiam, quam perniciem malebat; A. 1, virtus .... 
vicit vitium. Moreover he abounds in what we call in barbarous Latin 
allusiones. No one is ignorant into what absurdities the scrupulous- 
ness of commentators has fallen, who, as often as they find certain 
words, similar to those of some former writer, cry out at once, " imi- 
tation." But Tacitus often does not imitate others, but rather alludes 
to them, especially the poets, by repeating some words, remarkable 
either for beauty of sentiment or felicity of expression, and thus ex- 
citing a pleasing recollection in his readers. And it is often doubtful 
whether he did this wittingly or unwittingly. Now none of the poets 
was better known, or more celebrated at that age, than Virgil, whose 
words, Haec ubi dicta dedit, Livy long ago had not hesitated to in- 
troduce into his narrative. Numberless expressions from the same 
author may be found in Tacitus, scattered here and there. More 
rarely will you find the words of Horace ; as, Ann. XV., 37, Ex illo 
contaminatorum grege, coll. Carm. I., 37, 9, for I do not believe, that, 
in common prose, eunuchs come under the term contaminati. No- 
where, so far as I know, does he allude to Ovid, a writer entirely 
unlike himself in taste and style, for I am not of the opinion that the 
words in Agr. 44, were drawn from Ovid. Of prose writers he 
quoted Sallust most frequently. From a comparison with Livy, 
Trillerus has made a good correction in Hist. II., 80. Near the 
close of Agricola he manifestly refers his readers to a most beautiful 
passage of Cicero de Oratore. If I have rightly corrected Agr. 42, 
he has there quoted verbatim the language of Seneca. It were easy 
also to trace resemblances between Tacitus, Demosthenes, Thucy- 
dides, and Plato ; and the verses of Homer are recognised in Hist. I., 
80 ; and Agr. 34. 

Thus much concerning the style of Tacitus. If I had undertaken to 
write a book on Tacitus, many topics would still remain to be discussed 
touching the genius of the writer, and his political and religious 



STYLE OF TACITUS. 25 

opinions ; touching his learning, his fidelity, and his skill as an histo- 
rian. But now, since I have no other purpose than to write a preface 
to my edition, I have briefly discussed some subjects and have passed 
by others, particularly those which it is evidently better to omit, than 
to treat briefly and therefore unsatisfactorily. And it is better that 
those who start such questions should consult those books, (and they 
are not a few) , in which the ideas of men of pre-eminent talent have 
been ably and fully unfolded. But concerning the style of our au- 
thor I have treated a littte more extensively, in order to compensate 
for the small number and briefness of my notes ; and, at the same 
time, if I should se^m to have used too great boldness in either ex- 
pressing an opinion or making a correction, to defend my position by 
bringing together under a single view the scattered examples. For 
this I have chiefly labored, and not with the more ambitious aim to 
set fortii a sort of image and picture of the style of Tacitus. Who- 
ever shall undertake this, will find not a few who will repeat to him 
these lines of Goethe : 

Noscituro, descripturo, quod animo et vita viget, 

Hoc tibi providendum est, animum et vitam ut evites prius ; 

Proinde partes exanimatas facili tractabis manu. 

3 



CHRONOLOGIA HISTORIARUM 



EX 



ZUMPTII POTISSIMUM ANNALIBUS DESUMPTA * 



A.U. C. 

822 



P. Chr. 



coss. 

Ex Kal. Jan. 
Imp. Galba II. 
T.Vinius (Ru- 
finus). 
Ex a. d. XVII. 

Kal. Febr. 
Imp. Otho, L. 
Salvius Otho 
Titianus. 
Ex Kal. Mart. 
T. Verginius 

Rufus, L. 
Pompeius Vo- 
piscus. 

Ex Kal. Maiis 
M.CaeliusSa- 
binus, T. Fla- 
vius Sabinus. 

Ex Kal. Jul. 
T. Arrius An- 
toninus, P. 
Marius Celsus 
II. 

Ex Kal. Sept. 
C. Fabius Va- 
lens, A. Lici- 
nius Caecina. 

Ex pr. Kal. 

Nov. 
(pro Caecina) 
Rosius Regu- 
lus. 

Ex Kal. Nov. 
Cn. Caecilius 

Simplex, C. 
Quinctius At- 
ticus. 



Ineunte anno a superiore exercitu de- 
fectio cbepit, mox 54b utroque Germa- 
nico exercitu A. Vitellius Imperator sa- 
lutatur. Eo nuntio acctpto Galba Ro- 
mae L. Pisonem Licinianun\ nobilem et 
modestum adolescentem, sibi. adoptat, 
sed praetorianorum animos omkso do- 
nativo magis etiam irritat. Itaque M. 
Salvius Otho, qui et ipse adoptionem* 
speraverat, conjurationem init, et Impe- 
rator a militibus declaratur : Galba, Piso, 
Vinius, Cornelius Laco, praefectus prae- 
torio, aliique foede trucidantur, a. d. 
XVIII. Kal. Febr. 

Paratur ingens de imperio certamen. 
A. Caecina, a Vitellio praemissus, Alpes 
Penninas Galliamque Transpadanam oc- 
cupat : sequitur, subacta Gallia, cum al 
tero exercitu C. Fabius Valens. Eis 
Otho suum exercitum apud Bedriacum 
opponit, duce fratre Titiano, neque Moe- 
sicas legiones jam appropinquantes ex- 
spectans, neque Suetonii Paullini pru- 
dentioribus consiliis utens. Vincuntur 
Othoniani, quo nuntio audito Otho, infe- 
Jix bellum ducere nolens, Brixelli XII. 
Kal. Mai. nonagesimo quinto Imp. die 
semet ipse interficit. Ceteri Vitellio se 
dedunt, homini non malo, sed ita gulae 
dedito, ut paucissimis mensibus novies millies 
J/T S consumpserit. 

Vixdum Romae honorem inierat, cum 
T. Vespasianus, prope confecto bello Ju- 
daico clarus, Muciano Syriae proconsule 
et Tito filio adhortantibus, principatum 
concupiscit. Kal. Juliis Alexandriae 
Imperator declaratur a Tiberio Alexan- 
dre, Aegypti praefecto ; sequuntur Ju- 
daicae et Syriacae legiones, continuo, 
dimissis nuntiis, tres Moesicae, duae 
Pannonicae, auctore Antonio Primo 
acerrimo partium defensore. Is injussu 
Vespasiani neque exspectato Muciani 
adventu legiones in Italiam rapit : con- 



Hist. 
Lib. I. 
Cab, 

1-4& 



Lib. I. 

Cap. 

50 — 
Lib. II. 

Cap. 
72. 



Lib. II. 

Cap. 

73 — 
Lib. IV. 

Cap. 
11. 



* We have copied this table from Orelli's Edition of the Historiae of Tacitus, 
Zurich, 1848. 



CHRONOLOGIA HISTORIARUM. 



27 



A. U. C. P. Chb 



823 



COSS. 



Ex Kal. Jan. 
Imp. Vespasi- 
anus II. Titus 
Caesar Augu- 
sti films. 

Ex Kal. Jul. 

C. Licinius 
Mucianus II. 

P. Valerius 
Asiaticus. 
Ex Kal. Nov. 

L. Annius 

Bassus, C. 
Caecina Pae- 
tus. 



Hist. 



silia Vitellianorum proditione Caecinae 
(turn Consulis suffecti cum Valente) 
perturbantur, et novem legiones a pau- 
cioribus adversariis inter Bedriacum et 
Cremonam nocturne- proelio profligan- 
tur ; castris ad Cremonam vi captis, re 
liqui Vitelliani deduntur, urbs direpta 
incenditur. Jam Romam ducitur victor 
exercitus, sed lente : Apennini angustiae 
praesidiaque urbium produntur, dum 
Vitellius Romae, inter spem metumque 
haesitans, militum et vulgi studiis regi- 
tur. Hi Flavium Sabinum, Consularem 
praefectum urbis, Vespasiani fratrem, 
cum reliquis Flavianarum partium sociis 
in Capitolium compellunt, nolente Vi- 
tellio, et templo incenso opprimunt. Sed 
adventu hostilis exercitus urbs caedibus 
impletur. Vitellius, latebris protractus, 
IX. Kal. Jan., quinquaginta septem an- 
nos natus, foede trucidatur ; frater ejus 
L. cum reliquiis partium in Campania 
deditus et ipse interficitur. Omnia haec 
absente Vespasiano, qui Alexandriae 
substiterat, acta, sed urbanae res a Mu- 
ciano et Domitiano, minore Vespasiani 
filio, utcunque componuntur. 

Interea fortissima gens Batavorum a ! 
Romanis defecerat, duce Julio Civile, 
proximosque Germanos in partes tra- 
duxerat. 

Kalendis Januariis absentibus consu- 
libus senatum habet Julius Frontinus, 
praetor urbanus, cui cum ejurasset, suc- 
cedit Fl. Domitianus cum potestate con- 
sulari. Etiam Lingones ac Treveri. 
Batavorum exemplum secuti, a Romanis 
deficiunt, ducibus Classico Julioque Tu- 
tore, et ipsas legiones Romanas, seditio- 
nibus perturbatas, ad sacramentum pro 
imperio Galliarum faciendum adigunt. 
Sed mox Petilius Cerialis, a Vespasiano 
missus, Treveros in potestatem redigit ; 
etiam Civilis duobus proeliis victus ad 
pacem petendam compellitur. Julius 
Sabinus, Lingonus, in monumento quo- 
dam abditus per novem annos latet. 

Eodem tempore Titus Caesar cum 
valido exercitu haud procul Hierosoly- 
mis castra facit et sexcenta milia Judae- 
orum obsidet. (Urbe capta atque eversa 
Judaeis per totum Imp. Rom. tributum 
annuum binarum drachmarum imponi- 
tur, ex quo templum Jovis Capitolini 
restituatur. Sed regnum Ituraeae Agrip- 
,pae minori servatum est, cujus sororem 
JBerenicen Titus deperit.) 



Lib. IV. 

Cap. 

12-37. 
Lib. IV. 

Cap. 

38-86. 
Lib. V. 

Cap. 

14-26. 



Lib. V. 
Cap. 
1-13. 



C. COMELII TACITI 
HISTORIARUM 

LIBER PRIMUS. 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 

Cap. I. Praefamen. Auctoris dignitas, aetas, institutum. II, III. Prae- 
sentis historiae summa capita. IV, V. Status urbis, mens exerci- 
tuum, habitus provinciarum, occiso Nerone. Nymphidius, iraperiura 
affectans, oppressus. VI, VII. Galbam crudelitas sua, aetas, cor- 
poris forma et amicorum vitia reddunt invisum. VIII, IX. Status 
Hispaniae, Galliae, Germanicorum exercituum, Britanniae, Illyrici. 
X. In Syria Muciani virtutes et vitia. Fl. Vespasiani, Judaicum 
bellum administrantis, animus in Galbam. XI. Aegypti, Africae, 
Mauretaniae, Rhaetiae, Norici, Thraciae, Italiae status COSS. 
Galba et Vinio. 

XII. Deficiente superioris Germaniae milite, Galba de adoptando Cae- 
sare cogitat. XIII. Vinius Othoni favet, non ita Laco et Icelus. 
XIV. Galba, transactis imperii comitiis, Pisonem eligit, hominem 
antiqui moris et severum, cui, XV, XVI, adoptionis causas et impe- 
rii administrandi consilium aperit. XVII. Pisonis inter haec mode- 
ratio. XVIII. Adoptio in castris nuncnpata, XIX, turn in senatu. 
Legati ad defectores missi. XX. Neronis prodigae donationes re- 
scissae. 

XXI. Othoni spe lapso consilium in turbido, XXII, instigantibus liber- 
tis, servis, mathematicis ; XXIII, XXIV, paratis jam ante militum 
studiis per blanditias et largitiones, oscitante ad id praefecto. XXV, 
XXVI. Ergo jam legiones et auxilia pro Othone. XXVII. Mox 
consalutatus imperator, XXVIII, castris praetorianis infertur. 

XXIX, XXX. Piso cohortem, quae in palatio stationem agit, hortatur 
ad fidem. XXXI. Ilia parat signa, reliquis copiis deficientibus. 
XXXII, XXXIII. Plebis adulatio et levitas. Fluctuat Galba cum 
amicis, an occurrendum? XXXIV. Praemittitur in castra Piso. 
Falsus de occiso Othone rumor. XXXV. Populus et senatus Gal- 
bae ; XXXVI, castra Othoni favent. XXXVII, XXXVIII. Hie 
militum animos oratione sibi conciliat, Galbae et Pisoni reddit infen- 

3* 



30 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

sos. Arma militi dividit. XXXIX. Agitat Laco de caede Vinii. 
XL. Galba fluctuat. Plebs nutat. Othoniani forum irrumpunt. 
XLI. Galba desertus, occisus, XLII, sic et Vinius. XLIII. Sem- 
pronii fides. Piso caesus, XLIV, magna Othonis laetitia. Caedium 
praemia poscentes jussu Vitellii postea interfecti. XLV. Adulantur 
senatus et populus victorem Othonem, qui coercendo militum furori 
impar : XLVI, hi vacationes sibi remitti petunt. Laco et Icelus 
caesi. XLVII. Pisonis et T. Vinii sepultura, XLVIII, elogia, tes- 
tamenta. XLIX. Galbae sepultura, aetas, nobilitas, mores, honores. 

L. Trepidam urbem novus de Vitellio nuntius exterret. Vespasianum 
nonnulli augurantur. LI. Initia Vitelliani motus ex belio Julii Vin- 
dicis, et secutis indo discordiis inter legiones et Gallos. LII, LIU. 
Vitellius, suo ingenio ignavus, ad res novas stimulatur a Valente et 
Caecina Legatis. L1V, LV. Legiones utriusque Germaniae fidem 
in Galbam exuunt, LVI, segni spectatore Hordeonio Flacco legato. 
LVII. Valens Vitellium imperatorem consalutat, magno militum 
studio ; LVIII, quibus poscentibus multi caesi. LIX. Julius Civilis 
periculum evadit. Undique viribus auctus, LX, inter foedas legato- 
rum discordias, LXI, duos exercitus in Italiam mittit. LXII. Tor- 
pet Vitellius ; ardor et vis militum ultro ducis munia impiet. LXIII. 
Subito furore correptus miles ab excidio Divoduri aegre temperat. 
Gallias terror invadit. LXIV. Vitellio adhaerent. LXV. Lugdu- 
nenses ex vetere odio milites in eversionem Viennensium impellunt ; 
LXVI, isti tamen donis placantur et precibus. Valentis avaritia et 
libido. LXVII, LXVIII. Helvetios, Vitellii imperium abnuentes, 
Caecina belli avidus caedit. LXIX. Aventicum aegre impunitatem 
salutemque impetrat. LXX. In Vitellii partes transgressa Italiae 
parte, Caecina Alpes superat. 

LXXI. Otho prudenter se gerit ; Mario Celso ignoscit. LXXII. Ti- 
gellinus infamem vitam exitu inhonesto foedat. LXXIII. Galvia 
Crispinilla cum mala Othonis fama periculo exempta. LXXIV. 
Principes mutuo sibi conditiones ofFerunt ; mox rixantes flagitia in- 
vicem objectant, et LXXV, insidiatores immittunt. LXXVI. Dis- 
tractis inter utrumque exercitibus ac provinciis, bello opus. LXXVII. 
Otho imperatorem agit ; honores, LXXVIII, civitatem, jura dilar- 
gitur : de celebranda Neronis memoria agitat. 

LXXIX. Sarmatae Roxolani Moesiam irrumpentes caesi. LXXX — 
LXXXII. Seditio gravis, in ipsa urbe temere orta, cum magno metu 
atque discrimine primorum civitatis, precibus et lacrimis Othonis 
componitur, qui LXXXIII, LXXXIV, milites ad concordiam et mo- 
destiam hortatur. LXXXV. Istis compositis, omnia suspicionum et 
formidinis plena, praecipuo patrum metu. LXXXVI. Prodigia Otho- 
nis cladem praesagientia. LXXXVII. Is, lustrata urbe, Narbonen- 
sem Galliam aggredi statuit, et LXXXVIII, cum multis nobilibus L. 
Vitellium aemuli fratrem secum ducit. LXXXIX. Inde varii ani- 



A. C. 69. j LIBER. I. CAP. II. 31 

morum motus. XC Commendata patribus republica Otho festinat 
ad bellum. Trachali eloquentia usus Otho, in quern studia et vacos 
vulgi. Gesta haec paucis mensibus, 

IMP. SERV. GALBA ET T. VCXZO COSS. 

Initium mihi operis Ser. Galba iterura, T. Yiaius consumes 
erunt. Nam, post conditam urbem octingentos et viginti 
prions aevi annos multi auctores retulerunt, dum res populi 
Romani memorabantur, pari eloquentia ac libertate : post- 
quam bellatum apud Actium atque omnem potentiam ad 5 
unum conferri pacis interfuit, magna ilia ingenia cessere ; 
simul Veritas pluribus modis infracta, primum inscitia rei- 
pubiicae ut alienae, mox libidine assentandi, aut rursus odio 
ad versus dominantes : ita neutris cura posteritatis, inter in- 
fensos vel obnoxios. Sed ambitionern scriptoris facile ad- 10 
verseris, obtrectatio et livor pronis auribus accipiuntur : 
quippe adulationi foedum crimen servitutis, malignitati falsa 
species libertatis inest. Mihi Galba, Otho, Yitellius neo 
beneficio nee injuria cogniti. Dignitatem nostram a Vespa- 
siano inchoatam, a Tito auctam, a Domitiano longius provec- 15 
tarn non abnuerim : sed incorruptam fidern professis nee 
amore quisquam et sine odio dicendus est. Quod si vita 
suppeditet, principatum divi Nervae, et imperium Trajani, 
uberiorem securioremque materiam, senectuti seposui, rara 
temporum felicitate, ubi sentire quae velis, et quae sentias 20 
die ere, licet. 

II. Opus aggredior opimum casibus, atrox proeliis, dis- 
cors seditionibus, ipsa etiam pace saevum. Quatuor prin- 
cipes ferro interempti : trina bella civilia, plura externa ac 
plerumque permixta : prosperae in Oriente, adversae in. 25 
Occidente res : turbatum Illyricum : Galliae nutantes : per- 
domita Britannia et statim missa : coortae in nos Sarmata- 
rum ac Suevorum gentes : nobilitatus cladibus mutuis Da- 
cus: mota etiam prope Parthorum arma, falsi Neronis 
ludibrio. Jam vero Italia no vis cladibus, vel post longam 30 
saeculorum seriem repetitis, afflicta. Haustae aut obrutae 
urbes, fecundissima Campaniae ora : et urbs incendiis vas- 
tata, consumptis antiquissimis delubris, ipso Capitolio civ- 



32 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOE. [a. U. 822. 

ium manibus incenso : pollutae caerimoniae ; magna adul- 
teria ; plenum exsiliis mare ; infecti caedibus scopuli. Atro- 
cius in Urbe saevitum. Nobilitas, opes, omissi gestique 
honores pro crimine, et ob virtutes certissimum exitium. 
5 Nee minus praemia delatorum invisa, quam scelera ; cum 
alii sacerdotia et consulatus ut spolia adepti, procurationes 
alii et interiorem potentiam, agerent verterent cuncta odio 
et terrore. Corrupti in dominos servi, in patronos liberti ; 
et, quibus deerat inimicus, per amicos oppressi. 

10 III. Non tamen adeo virtutum sterile saeculum, ut non 
et bona exempla prodiderit. Comitatae profugos liberos 
matres, secutae maritos in exsilia conjuges ; propinqui au- 
dentes, constantes generi; contumax etiam adversus tor- 
menta servorum fides : supremae clarorum virorum neces- 

15sitates; ipsa necessitas fortiter tolerata, et laudatis anti- 
quorum mortibus pares exitus. Praeter multiplices rerum 
humanarum casus coelo terraque prodigia, et fulminum 
monitus et futurorum praesagia, laeta, tristia, ambigua, 
manifesta. Nee enim unquam atrocioribus populi Romam 

20 cladibus magisve justis indiciis approbatum est, non esse 
curae deis securitatem nostram, esse ultionem. 

IV. Ceterum antequam destinata componam, repetendum 
videtur, qualis status urbis, quae mens exercituum, quis 
habitus provinciarum, quid in toto terrarum orbe validum, 

25 quid aegrum fuerit ; ut non modo casus eventusque rerum, 
qui plerumque fortuiti sunt, sed ratio etiam causaeque 
noscantur. Finis Neronis ut laetus primo gaudentium 
impetu fuerat, ita varios motus animorum, non modo in 
urbe apud patres aut populum aut urbanum militem, sed 

30 omnes legiones ducesque conciverat, evulgato imperii area- 
no posse principem alibi, quam Romae fieri. Sed patres 
laeti, usurpata statim libertate licentius ut erga principem 
novum et absentem ; primores equitum proximi gaudio 
patrum ; pars populi integra et magnis domibus annexa, 

35 clientes libertique damnatorum et exsulum in spem erecti : 
plebs sordida et circo ac theatris sueta, simul deterrimi 
servorum, aut qui, adesis bonis, per dedecus Neronis ale- 
bantur, maesti et rumorum avidi. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. V, VI, VII. 33 

V. Miles urbanus, longo Caesarum sacramento imbutus 
et ad destituendum ISTeronem arte magis et impulsu quam 
suo ingenio traductus, postquam neque dari donativum, 
sub nomine Galbae promissum, neque magnis meritis ac 
praemiis eundem in pace quern in bello locum, praeven- 5 
tamque gratiam intelligit apud principem a legionibus fac- 
tum, pronus ad novas res, scelere insuper Nymphidii 
Sabini praefecti imperium sibi molientis agitatur. Et Nym- 
phidius quidem in ipso conatu oppressus : sed, quamvis 
capite defectionis ablato, manebat plerisque militum con- 10 
scientia ; nee deerant sermones, " senium atque avaritiam 
Galbae" increpantium. Laudata olim et militari fama 
celebrata severitas ejus angebat aspernantes veterem disci- 
plinam, atque ita quatuordecim annis a Nerone assuefactos, 

ut baud minus vitia principum amarent, quam olim virtutes 15 
verebantur. Accessit Galbae vox, pro republica honesta, 
ipsi anceps, " legi a se militem, non emi." JSTec enim ad 
hanc formam cetera erant. 

VI. Invalidum senem T. Vinius et Cornelius Laco, alter 
deterrimus mortalium, alter ignavissimus, odio flagitiorum 20 
oneratum contemptu inertiae destruebant. Tardum Galbae 
iter et cruentum, interfectis Cingonio Varrone consule de- 
signate et Petronio Turpiliano consulari : ille, ut Nyniphi- 
dii socius, hie, ut dux Neronis, inauditi atque indefensi, 
tanquam innocentes, perierant. Introitus in urbem, truci- 25 
datis tot millibus inermium militum, infaustus omine, atque 
ipsis etiam qui occiderant formidolosus. Indue ta legione 
Hispana, remanente ea quam e classe Nero conscripserat, 
plena urbs exercitu insolito : multi ad hoc numeri e Ger- 
mania ac Britannia et Illyrico, quos idem Nero electos 30 
praemissosque ad claustra Caspiarum et bellum quod in 
Albanos parabat, opprimendis Vindicis coeptis revocaverat : 
ingens novis rebus materia, ut non in unum aliquem prono 
favore, ita audenti parata. 

VII. Forte congruerat, ut Clodii Macri et Fonteii Capi- 35 
tonis caedes nuntiarentur. Macrum in Africa haud dubie 
turbantem, Trebonius Garutianus procurator, jussu Galbae, 
Capitonem in Germania cum similia coeptaret Cornelius 



34 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Aquinus et Fabius Yalens legati legionum interfecerant, 
antequam juberentur. Fuere qui crederent, Capitonem, ut 
avaritia et libidine foedum ac maculosum, ita cogitatione 
rerum novarum abstinuisse ; sed a legatis, bellum suadenti- 
5 bus, postquam impellere nequiverint, crimen ac dolum ultro 
compositum : at Galbam rnobilitate ingenii, an ne altius 
scrutaretur, quoquo modo acta, quia mutari non poterant, 
comprobasse. Ceterum utraque caedes sinistre accepta; 
et inviso semel principe, seu bene seu male facta premunt. 

10 Jam afferebant venalia cuncta praepotentes liberti ; servo- 
rum manus subitis avidae, et tanquam apud senem festi- 
nantes ; eademque novae aulae mala, aeque gravia, non 
aeque excusata. Ipsa aetas Galbae irrisui ac fastidio erat 
assuetis juventae Neronis et imperatores forma ac decore 

15 corporis, ut est mos vulgi, comparantibus. 

VIII. Et hie quidem Romae, tanquam in tanta mul- 
titudine, habitus animorum fuit. E provinces, Hispaniae 
praeerat Cluvius Rufus, vir facundus et pacis artibus, bellis 
inexpertus. Galliae, super memoriam Vindicis, obligatae 

20 recenti dono Romanae civitatis et in posterum tributi leva- 
mento. Proximae tamen Germanicis exercitibus Galliarum 
civitates non eodem honore habitae, quaedam etiam finibus 
ademptis, pari dolore commoda aliena ac suas injurias 
metiebantur. Germanici exercitus, quod periculosissimum 

25 in tantis viribus, solliciti et irati superbia recentis victoriae 
et metu, tanquam alias partes fovissent. Tarde a Nerone 
desciverant ; nee statim pro Galba Verginius : an imperare 
voluisset, dubium ; delatum ei a milite imperium convenie- 
bat. Fonteium Capitonem occisum, etiam qui queri non 

30 poterant, tamen indignabantur. Dux deerat, abducto Ver- 
ginio per simulationem amicitiae : quern non remitti atque 
etiam reum esse tanquam suura crimen accipiebant. 

IX. Superior exercitus legatum Hordeonium Flaccum 
spernebat, senecta ac debilitate pedum invalidum, sine con- 

35 stantia, sine auctoritate: ne quieto quidem milite, regimen; 
adeo furentes infirmitate retinentis ultro accendebantur. 
Inferioris Germaniae legiones diutius sine consulari fuere, 
donee missu Galbae A. Vitellius aderat, censoris Viteliii ac 



k. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. X, XI. 35 

ter consulis filius : id satis videbatur. In Britannico exer- 
citu nihil irarum. Non sane aliae legiones per omnes civili- 
um bellorum motus innocentius egerunt, seu quia procul et 
Oceano divisae, seu crebris expeditionibus doctae hostem 
potius odisse. Quies et Illyrico, quanquam excitae a Ne- 5 
rone legiones, dum in Italia cunctantur, Verginium legatio- 
nibus adissent. Sed longis spatiis discreti exercitus, quod 
saluberrimum est ad continendam militarem fidem, nee 
vitiis nee viribus miscebantur. 

X. Oriens adhue immotus. Syriam et quatuor legiones 10 
obtinebat Licinius Mucianus, vir secundis adversisque juxta 
famosus. Insignes amicitias juvenis ambitiose coluerat: 
mox, attritis opibus, lubrico statu, suspecta etiam Claudii 
iraeundia, in secretum Asiae repositus, tarn prope ab exsule 
fuit, quam postea a principe. Luxuiia, industria, comitate, 15 
arrogantia, malis bonisque artibus mixtus : nimiae volupta- 
tes, cum vacaret ; quotiens expedierat, magnae virtutes : 
palam laudares ; secreta male audiebant. Sed apud sub- 
jectos, apud proximos, apud collegas, variis illecebris potens, 

et cui expeditius fuerit tradere imperium, quam obtinere. 20 
Bellum Judaicum Flavius Vespasianus (ducem eum Nero 
delegerat) tribus legionibus administrabat, Nee Vespasi- 
ano ad versus Galbam votum aut animus, Quippe Titum 
filium ad venerationem cultumque ejus miserat, ut suo loco 
memorabimus. Occulta lege fati et ostentis ac responsis 25 
destinatum Vespasiano liberisque ejus imperium, post fortu- 
nam credidimus. 

XI. Aegyptum copiasque, quibus coerceretur, jam inde 
a divo Augusto, equites Romani obtinent loco regum, Ita 
visum expedire, provinciam aditu difficilem, annonae fecun- 30 
dam, superstitione ac lascivia discordem ac mobilem, in- 
sciam legum, ignaram magistratuum, domi retinere. Rege- 
bat turn Tiberius Alexander, ejusdem nationis. Africa ac 
legiones in ea, interfecto Clodio Macro, contenta qualicum- 
que principe, post experimentum domini minoris. Duae 35 
Mauretaniae, Raetia, Noricum, Thracia, et quae aliae pro- 
curatoribus cohibentur, ut cuique exercitui vicinae, ita in 
favorem aut odium contactu valentiorum agebantur. In- 



36 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOK. [a. U. 822. 

ermes provinciae, atque ipsa in primis Italia, cuicunque 
servitio exposita, in pretium belli cessurae erant. Hie fuit 
rerum Romanarum status, cum Ser. Galba iterum, Titus 
Vinius consules inchoavere annum sibi ultimum, reipub- 
5 licae prope supremum. 

XII. Paucis post Kalendas Januarias diebus Pompeii 
Propinqui procurators e Belgica literae afferuntur : " supe- 
rioris Germaniae legion es, rupta sacramenti reverentia, im- 
peratorem alium flagitare, et senatui ac populo Romano 

10 arbitrium eligendi permittere;" quo seditio mollius accipe- 
retur. Maturavit ea res consilium Galbae jam pridem de 
adoptione secum et cum proximis agitantis. Non sane cre- 
brior tota civitate sermo per illos menses fuerat, primum 
licentia ac libidine talia loquendi, dein fessa jam aetate 

15 Galbae. Paucis judicium aut reipublicae amor: multi 
stulta spe, prout quis amicus vel cliens, hunc vel ilium am- 
bitiosis rumoribus destinabant, etiam in T. Vinii odium, qui 
in dies quanto potentior, eodem actu invisior erat. Quippe 
hiantes in magna fortuna amicorum cupiditates ipsa Galbae 

20 facilitas intendebat : cum apud infirmum et credulum mi- 
nore metu et majore praemio peccaretur. 

XIII. Potentia principatus divisa in T. Vinium consulem 
et Cornelium Laconem praetorii praefectum. Nee minor 
gratia Icelo Galbae liberto, quern annulis donatum equestri 

25 nomine Marcianum vocitabant. Hi discordes, et rebus mi- 
noribus sibi quisque tendentes, circa consilium eligendi suc- 
cessoris in duas factiones scindebantur. Vinius pro M. 
Othone : Laco atque Icelus consensu non tarn unum ali- 
quem fovebant quam alium. Neque erat Galbae ignota 

30 Othonis ac T. Yinii amicitia; et rumoribus nihil silentio 
transmittentium, quia Vinio vidua filia, caelebs Otho, gener 
ac socer destinabantur. Credo et reipublicae curam sub- 
isse, frustra a Nerone translatae, si apud Othonem relinque- 
retur. Namque Otho pueritiam incuriose, adolescentiam 

35 petulanter egerat, gratus Neroni aemulatione luxus : eoque 
jam Poppaeam Sabinam, principale scortum, ut apud con- 
scium libidinum, deposuerat, donee Octaviam uxorem amo- 
liretur; mox suspectum in eadem Poppaea in provinciam 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XIV, XV. 37 

Lusitaniam specie legationis seposuit. Otho, comiter ad- 
ministrata provincia, primus in partes transgressus, nee 
segnis, et, donee bellum fuit, inter praesentes splendidissi- 
mus, spem adoptionis statim conceptam acrius in dies 
rapiebat, faventibus plerisque militum, prona in eum aula 5 
Neronis ut similem. 

XIV. Sed Galba, post nuntios Germanicae seditionis, 
quanquam nihil adhuc de Vitellio certum, anxius quonam 
exercituum vis erumperet, ne urbano quidem militi confisus, 
quod remedium unicum rebatur, comitia imperii transigit; 10 
adhibitoque, super Vinium ac Laconem, Mario Celso con- 
sule designato ac Ducennio Gemino praefecto urbis, pauca 
praefatus de sua senectute, Pisonem Licinianum arcessi 
jubet, seu propria electione, sive, ut quidam crediderunt, 
Lacone instante, cui apud Rubellium Plautum exercita cum 15 
Pisone amicitia ; sed callide ut ignotum fovebat, et prospera 
de Pisone fama consilio ejus fidem addiderat. Piso M. 
Crasso et Scribonia genitus, nobilis utrimque, vultu habitu- 
que moris antiqui, et aestimatione recta severus, deterius 
interpretantibus tristior habebatur : ea pars morum ejus, 20 
quo suspectior sollicitis, adoptanti placebat. 

XV. Igitur Galba, apprebensa Pisonis manu, in hunc 
modum locutus fertur : " Si te privatus lege curiata apud 
pontifices, ut moris est, adoptarem, et mihi egregium erat 
Cn. Pompeii et M. Crassi sobolem in penates meos asciscere, 25 
et tibi insigne Sulpiciae ac Lutatiae decora nobilitati tuae 
adjecisse. Nunc me deorum hominumque consensu ad 
imperium vocatum praeclara indoles tua et amor patriae 
impulit, ut principatum, de quo majores nostri armis certa- 
bant, bello adeptus quiescenti offeram, exemplo divi Au- 30 
gusti, qui sororis filium Marcellum, dein generum Agrip- 
pam, mox nepotes suos, postremo Tiberium Neronem pri- 
vignum, in proximo sibi fastigio collocavit. Sed Augustus 

in domo successorem quaesivit, ego in republica ; non quia 
propinquos aut socios belli non habeam; sed neque ipse 35 
imperium ambitione accepi, et judicii mei documentum sint 
non mese tantum necessitudines, quas tibi postposui, sed et 
tuae. Est tibi frater pari nobilitate, natu major, dignus hac 

4 



38 C. CORN. TACITI HISiOR. [a. U. 822. 

fortuna, nisi tu potior esses. Ea aetas tua, quae cupidita- 
tes adolescentiae jam effugerit : ea vita, in qua nihil prae- 
teritum excusandum habeas. Fortunam adhuc tantum ad- 
versam tulisti; secundae res acrioribus stimulis animos 
5 explorant, quia miseriae tolerantur, felicitate corrumpimur. 
Fidem, libertatem, amicitiam, praecipua humani animi bona, 
tu quidem eadem constantia retinebis, sed alii per obsequi- 
um imminuent. Irrumpet adulatio, blanditiae, pessimum 
veri affectus venenum, sua cuique utilitas. Et jam ego ac 

10 tu simplicissime inter nos hodie loquimur : ceteri libentius 
cum fortuna nostra quam nobiscum. Nam suadere prin- 
cipi, quod oporteat, multi laboris : assentatio erga principem 
quemcumque sine affectu peragitur. 

XVI. " Si immensum imperii corpus stare ac librari sine 

15 rectore posset, dignus eram a quo respublica inciperet: 
nunc eo necessitatis jam pridem ventum est, ut nee mea 
senectus conferre plus populo Romano possit quam bonum 
successorem, nee tua plus juventa, quam bonum principem. 
Sub Tiberio et Caio et Claudio, unius familiae quasi heredi- 

20 tas fuimus : loco libertatis erit, quod eligi coepimus. Et, 
finita Juliorum Claudiorumque domo, optimum quemque 
adoptio inveniet. Nam generari et nasci a principibus 
fortuitum, nee ultra aestimatur: adoptandi judicium inte- 
grum, et, si velis eligere, consensu monstratur. Sit ante 

25 oculos Nero, quern longa Caesarum serie tumentem, non 
Yindex cum inermi provincia aut ego cum una legione, sed 
sua immanitas, sua luxuria, cervicibus publicis depulere ; 
neque erat adhuc damnati principis exemplum. Nos bello 
et ab aestimantibus asciti, cum invidia, quamvis egregii, 

30 erimus. Ne tamen territus fueris, si duae legiones in hoc 
concussi orbis motu nondum quiescunt. Ne ipse quidem 
ad securas res accessi : et, audita adoptione, desinam videri 
senex, quod nunc mihi unum objicitur. Nero a pessimo 
quoque semper desiderabitur : mihi ac tibi providendum 

35 est, ne etiam a bonis desideretur. Monere diutius neque 
temporis hujus, et impletum est omne consilium, si te bene 
elegi. Utilissimus idem ac brevissimus bonarum malarum- 
que rerum delectus est cogitare, quid aut volueris sub alio 



A. C. 69.J LIBER I. CAP. XVII, XVIII, XIX. 39 

principe aut nolueris. Neque enim hie, ut gentibus quae 
regnantur, certa dominorum domus et ceteri servi ; sed im- 
peraturus es hominibus, qui nee totam servitutem pati pos- 
sunt nee totam libertatem." Et Galba quidem haec ac 
talia, tanquam principem faceret ; ceteri tanquam cum facto 5 
loquebantur. 

XVII. Pisonem ferunt statim intuentibus, et mox con- 
jectis in eum omnium oculis, nullum turbati aut exsultantis 
animi motum prodidisse. Sermo erga patrem imperatorem- 
que reverens, de se moderatus ; nihil in vultu habituque 10 
mutatum, quasi imperare posset magis quam vellet. Con- 
sultatum inde, pro rostris an in senatu an in castris adoptio 
nuncuparetur. Iri in castra placuit : honorificum id militi- 
bus fore, quorum favorem, ut largitione et ambitu male 
acquiri, ita per bonas artes haud spernendum. Circum- 15 
steterat interim palatium publica expectatio magni secreti 
impatiens ; et male coercitam famam supprimentes auge- 
bant. 

XVIII. Quartum Idus Januarias, foedum imbribus diem, 
tonitrua et fulgura et coelestes minae ultra solitum turba- 20 
verant. Observatum id antiquitus comitiis dirimendis non 
terruit Galbam, quo minus in castra pergeret, contempto- 
rem talium ut fortuitorum, seu quae fato manent, quam vis 
significata, non vitantur. Apud frequentem militum con- 
cionem, imperatoria brevitate, adoptari a se Pisonem more 25 
divi Augusti et exemplo militari, quo vir virum legeret, 
pronuntiat. Ac ne dissimulata seditio in majus crederetur, 
ultro asseverat quartam et duodevicesimam legiones, paucis 
seditionis auctoribus, non ultra verba ac voces errasse, et 
brevi in officio fore. ISTec ullum orationi aut lenocinium 30 
addit aut pretium. Tribuni tamen centurionesque et proxi- 
mi militum grata auditu respondent : per ceteros maestitia 

ac silentium, tanquam usurpatam etiam in pace donativi 
necessitatem bello perdidissent. Constat potuisse conciliari 
animos quantulacumque parci senis liberalitate : nocuit 35 
antiquus rigor et nimia severitas, cui jam pares non sumus. 

XIX. Inde apud senatum non comptior Galbae, non 
longior quam apud militem sermo : Pisonis comis oratio. 



40 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Et patrum favor aderat ; multi voluntate effusius ; qui 
noluerant medie ; ac plurimi obvio obsequio, privatas spes 
agitantes sine publica cura. Nee aliud sequenti quatriduo, 
quod medium inter adoptionem et caedem fuit, dictum a 
5 Pisone in publico factumve. Crebrioribus in dies Germa- 
nicae defectionis nuntiis et facili civitate ad accipienda cre- 
dendaque omnia nova, cum tristia sunt, censuerant patres 
mittendos ad Germanicum exercitum legatos : agitatum 
secreto, num et Piso proficisceretur majore praetextu ; illi 

10 auctoritatem senatus, hie dignationem Caesaris laturus. 
Placebat et Laconem praetorii praefectum simul mitti : is 
consilio intercessit. Legati quoque (nam senatus electio- 
nem Galbae permiserat) foeda inconstantia nominati, excu- 
sati, substitute ambitu remanendi aut eundi, ut quemque 

15 metus vel spes impulerat. 

XX. Proxima pecuniae cura : et cuncta scrutantibus 
justissimum visum est inde repeti, ubi inopiae causa erat. 
Bis et vicies millies sestertium donationibus Nero effude- 
rat. Appellari singulos jussit, decuma parte liberalitatis 

20 apud quemque eorum relicta. At illis vix decumae super 
portiones erant, iisdem erga aliena sumptibus, quibus sua 
prodegerant, cum rapacissimo cuique ac perditissimo non 
agri aut fenus, sed sola instrumenta vitiorum manerent. 
Exactioni triginta equites Romani praepositi ; novum officii 

25 genus et ambitu ac numero onerosum : ubique hasta et 
sector ; et inquieta urbs actionibus. Attamen grande gau- 
dium, quod tarn pauperes forent, quibus donasset Nero, 
quam quibus abstulisset. Exauctorati per eos dies tribu- 
ni, e praetorio Antonius Taurus et Antonius Naso, ex 

30 urbanis cohortibus Aemilius Pacensis, e vigiliis Julius 
Fronto. Nee remedium in ceteros fuit, sed metus initium, 
tanquam per artem et formidinem singuli pellerentur omni- 
bus suspectis. 

XXI. Interea Othonem, cui compositis rebus nulla spes, 
35 omne in turbido consilium, multa simul exstimulabant, 

luxuria etiam principi onerosa, inopia vix privato toleranda, 
in Galbam ira, in Pisonem invidia. Fingebat et metum, 
quo magis concupisceret. " Praegravem se Neroni fuisse, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XXII, XXIII. 41 

nec Lusitaniam rursus et alterius exsilii honorem expectan- 
dum : suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus, qui 
proximus destinaretur. Nocuisse id sibi apud senem prin- 
cipem : magis nociturum apud juvenem ingenio trucem et 
longo exsilio efferatum : oceidi Othonem posse ; proinde 5 
agendum audendumque, dum Galbae auctoritas fluxa, 
Pisonis nondum coaluisset. Opportunos. magnis conatibus 
transitus rerum ; nec cunctatione opus, ubi perniciosior sit 
quies quam temeritas. Mortem omnibus ex natura aequa- 
lem, oblivione apud posteros vel gloria distingui. Ac si 10 
nocentem innocentemque idem exitus maneat, acrioris viri 
esse merito perire." 

XXII. Eon erat Otbonis mollis et corpori similis animus. 
Et intimi libertorum servorumque, corruptius quam in 
privata domo habiti, aulam jSTeronis et luxus, adulteria, 15 
matrimonia, ceterasque regnorum libidines avido talium, si 
auderet, ut sua ostentantes, quiescenti, ut aliena, exprobra- 
bant, urgentibus etiam mathematicis, dum novos motus, et 
clarum Othoni annum observatione siderum affirmant, 
genus honiinurn potentibus infidum, sperantibus fallax, 20 
quod in civitate nostra et vetabitur semper et retinebitur. 
Multos secreta Poppaeae mathematicos, pessimum princi- 
palis matrimonii instrumentum, habuerant ; e quibus Ptole- 
maeus Othoni in Hispania comes, cum superfuturum eum 
Neroni promisisset, postquam ex eventu fides, conjectura 25 
jam et rumore senium Galbae et juventam Othonis compu- 
tantium persuaserat fore, ut in imperium ascisceretur. Sed 
Otho tanquam peritia et monitu fatorum praedicta accipie- 
bat, cupidine ingenii humani libentius obscura credendi. 

XXIII. Nec deerat Ptolemaeus, jam et sceleris instinctor, 30 
ad quod facillime ab ejusmodi voto transitur. Sed sceleris 
cogitatio incertum an repens : studia militum jam pridem 
spe successionis aut paratu facinoris affectaverat ; in itinere, 

in agmine, in stationibus, vetustissimum quern que militum 
nomine vocans, ac memoria Keroniani comitatus contuber- 35 
nales appellando ; alios agnoscere, quosdam requirere et 
pecunia aut gratia juvare, inserendo saepius querelas et am- 
biguos de Galba sermones, quaeque alia turbamenta vulgi. 

4* 



42 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Labores itinerum, inopia commeatuum, duritia imperii atro- 
cius accipiebantur, cum Campaniae lacus et Achaiae urbes 
classibus adire soliti Pyrenaeum et Alpes et immensa via- 
rum spatia aegre sub armis eniterentur. 
5 XXIV. Flagrantibus jam militum animis velut faces ad- 
diderat Maevius Pudens e proximis Tigellini. Is mobilissi- 
mum quemque ingenio aut pecuniae indigum et in novas 
cupiditates praecipitem alliciendo, eo paulatim progressus 
est, ut per speciem convivii, quotiens Galba apud Othonem 

10 epularetur, cohorti excubias agenti viritim centenos nummos 
divideret ; quam velut publicam largitionem Otho secretio- 
ribus apud singulos praemiis intendebat, adeo animosus cor- 
ruptor, ut Cocceio Proculo speculatori de parte finium cum 
vicino ambigenti, universum vicini agrum sua pecunia emp- 

15 turn dono dederit, per socordiam praefecti, quern nota pari- 
ter et occulta fallebant. 

XXV. Sed turn e libertis Onomastum futuro sceleri prae- 
fecit, a quo Barbium Proculum tesserarium speculatorum 
et Veturium optionem eorundem perductos, postquam vario 

20 sermone callidos audacesque cognovit, pretio et promissis 
onerat, data pecunia ad pertentandos plurium animos. Sus- 
cepere duo manipulares imperium populi Romani transfer- 
endum ; et transtulerunt. In conscientiam facinoris pauci 
asciti : suspensos ceterorum animos diversis artibus stimu- 

25 lant, primores militum per beneficia Nymphidii ut suspectos, 
vulgus et ceteros ira et desperatione dilati totiens donativi ; 
erant, quos memoria Neronis ac desiderium prioris licentiae 
accenderet : in commune omnes metu mutandae militiae 
terrebantur. 

30 XXVI. Infecit ea tabes legionum quoque et auxiliorum 
motas jam mentes, postquam vulgatum erat labare Ger- 
manici exercitus fidem : adeoque parata apud malos seditio, 
etiam apud integros dissimulatio fuit, ut postero iduum die- 
rum redeuntem a coena Othonem rapturi fuerint, ni incerta 

35 noctis et tota urbe sparsa militum castra nee facilem inter 
temulentos consensum timuissent, non reipublicae cura, quam 
foedare principis sui sanguine sobrii parabant, sed ne per 
tenebras, ut quisque Pannonici vel Germanici exercitus mili- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX. 43 

tibus oblatus esset, ignorantibus plerisque, pro Othone des- 
tinaretur. Multa erumpentis seditionis indicia per conscios 
oppressa ; quaedam apud Galbae aures praefectus Laco 
elusit, ignarus militarium animorum, consiliique quamvis 
egregii, quod non ipse afferret, inimicus, et adversus peritos 5 
pervicax. 

XXVII. Octavodecimo Kalendas Februarii, sacrificanti 
pro aede Apollinis Galbae haruspex Umbricius tristia exta 
et instantes insidias ac domesticum hostem praedicit, audi- 
ente Othone (nam proximus astiterat) idque nt laetum e 10 
contrario et suis cogitationibus prosperum interpretante. 
Nee multo post libertus Onomastus nuntiat exspectari eum 
ab architecto et redemptoribus ; quae significatio coeuntium 
jam militum et paratae conjurationis convenerat. Otho, 
causam digressus requirentibus, cum emi sibi praedia vetus- 15 
tate suspecta eoque prius exploranda finxisset, innixus lib- 
erto per Tiberianam domum in Velabruni, inde ad milliarium 
aureum sub aedem Saturni pergit. Ibi tres et viginti spec- 
ulators consalutatum imperatorem ac paucitate salutantium 
trepidum et sellae festinanter impositum strictis mucronibus 20 
rapiunt. Totidem ferme milites in itinere aggregantur, alii 
conscientia, plerique miraculo, pars clamore et gaudiis, pars 
silentio, animum ex eventu sumpturi. 

XXYIII. Stationem in castris agebat Julius Martialis 
tribunus. Is magnitudine subiti sceleris, an corrupta latius 25 
castra et, si contra tenderet, exitium metuens, praebuit 
plerisque suspicionem conscientiae. Anteposuere ceteri 
quoque tribuni centurionesque praesentia dubiis et honestis : 
isque habitus animorum fuit, ut pessimum f acinus auderent 
pauci, plures vellent, omnes paterentur. 30 

XXIX. Ignarus interim Galba et sacris intentus fatigabat 
alieni jam imperii deos, cum affertur rumor rapi in castra 
incertum quern senatorem; mox, Othonem esse, qui rapere- 
tur : simul ex tota urbe, ut quisque obvius fuerat, alii for- 
midine augentes, quidam minora vero, ne turn quidem obliti 35 
adulationis. Igitur consultantibus placuit pertentari ani- 
mum cohortis, quae in palatio stationem agebat, nee per ip- 
sum Galbam, cujus integra auctoritas majoribus remediis 



44 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

servabatur. Piso pro gradibus domus vocatos in hunc 
modum allocutus est : " Sextus dies agitur, commilitones, 
ex quo ignarus futuri et sive optandum hoc nomen sive 
timendum erat, Caesar ascitufc sum ; quo domus nostrae aut 
5 reipublicae fato in vestra manu positum est: non quia meo 
nomine tristiorem casum paveam ut qui adversas res exper- 
tus cum maxime discam ne secundas quidem minus discrim- 
inis habere ; patris et senatus et ipsius imperii vicem doleo, 
si nobis aut perire hodie necesse est aut, quod aeque apud 

10 bonos miserum est, occidere. Solatium proximi motus 
habebamus incruentam urbem et res sine discordia transla- 
tas. Provisum adoptione videbatur, ut ne post Galbam 
quidem bello locus esset. 

XXX. " Nihil arrogabo mihi nobilitatis aut modestiae : 

15 neque enim relatu virtutum in comparatione Othonis opus 
est. Vitia, quibus solis gloriatur, evertere imperium, etiam 
cum amicum imperatoris ageret. Habitune et incessu, an 
illo muliebri ornatu mereretur imperium ? Falluntur, qui- 
bus luxuria specie liberalitatis imponit. Perdere iste sciet, 

20 donare nesciet. Stupra nunc et comissationes et feminarum 
coetus volvit animo : haec principatus praemia putat, quo- 
rum libido ac voluptas penes ipsum sit, rubor ac dedecus 
penes omnes. Nemo enim unquam imperium, flagitio quae- 
situm, bonis artibus exercuit. Galbam consensus generis 

25 humani, me Galba, consentientibus vobis, Caesarem dixit. 
Si respublica et senatus et populus vana nomina sunt, ves- 
tra, commilitones, interest, ne imperatorem pessimi faciant. 
Legionum seditio adversus duces suos audita est aliquando : 
vestra fides famaque illaesa ad hunc diem mansit : et Nero 

30 quoque vos destituit, non vos Neronem. Minus triginta 
transfugae et desertores, quos centurionem aut tribunum 
sibi eligentes nemo ferret, imperium assignabunt ? Admit- 
titis exemplum ? et quiescendo commune crimen facitis ? 
Transcendet haec licentia in provincias ; et ad nos scelerum 

35 exitus, bellorum ad vos pertinebunt. Nee est plus, quod 
pro caede principis quam quod innocentibus datur : sed 
perinde a nobis donativum ob fidem, quam ab aliis pro faci- 
nore accipietis. . 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII. 45 

XXXI. Dilapsis speculatoribus, cetera cohors non asper- 
nata concionantem, ut turbidis rebus evenit, forte magis et 
nullo adhuc consilio parat signa quam, quod postea creditum 
est, insidiis et simulatione. Missus et Celsus Marius ad 
electos Illyrici exercitus, Vipsania in porticu tendentes. 5 
Praeceptum Amulio Serenio et Domitio Sabino primipilari- 
bus, ut Germanicos milites e Libertatis atrio arcesserent. 
Legioni classicae diffidebat infestae ob caedem commilito- 
num, quos primo statim introitu trucidaverat Galba. Per- 
gunt etiam in castra praetorianorum tribuni, Cetrius Seve- 10 
rus, Subrius Dexter, Pompeius Longinus, si incipiens adhuc 

et necdum adulta seditio melioribus consiliis flecteretur. 
Tribunorum Subrium et Cetrium milites adorti minis, Lon- 
ginum manibus coercent exarmantque, quia non ordine mili- 
tiae, sed e Galbae amicis, fidus principi suo et desciscenti- 15 
bus suspectior erat. Legio classica nihil cunctata praetori- 
anis adjungitur. Illyrici exercitus electi Celsum ingestis 
pilis proturbant. Germanica vexilla diu nutavere, invalidis 
adhuc corporibus et placatis animis, quod eos a Nerone 
Alexandriam praemissos atque inde rursus longa naviga- 20 
tione aegros impensiore cura Galba refovebat. 

XXXII. Uni versa jam plebs palatium implebat, mixtis 
servitiis et dissono clamore caedem Othonis et conjuratorum 
exitium poscentium, ut si in circo ac theatro ludicrum ali- 
quod postularent : neque illis judicium aut Veritas, quippe 25 
eodem die diversa pari certamine postulaturis, sed tradito 
more quemcumque principem adulandi licentia acclama- 
tionum et studiis inanibus. Interim Galbam duae senten- 
tiae distinebant. Titus Vinius " manendum intra domum, 
opponenda servitia, firmandos aditus, non eundum ad iratos" 30 
censebat : " daret malorum poenitentiae, daret bonorum 
consensui spatium : scelera impetu, bona consilia mora va- 
lescere. Denique eundi ultro, si ratio sit, eandem mox fa- 
cultatem : regressus, si poeniteat, in aliena potestate. ,, 

XXXIII. " Festinandum" ceteris videbatur, " antequam 35 
cresceret invalida adhuc conjuratio paucorum. Trepidatu- 
rum etiam Othonem, qui furtim digressus, ad ignaros illatus, 
cunctatione nunc et segnitia terentium tempus imitari prin- 



46 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

cipem discat. JSTon exspectandum, ut compositis castris 
forum invadat et prospectante Galba Capitolium adeat, 
dum egregius imperator cum fortibus amicis janua ac limine 
tenus domum cludit, obsidionem nimirum toleraturus. Et 
5 praeclarum in servis auxilium, si consensus tantae multitu- 
dinis, et, quae plurimum valet, prima indignatio elanguescat. 
Proinde intuta quae indecora ; vel si cadere necesse sit, oc- 
currendum discrimini. Id Othoni invidiosius, et ipsis hon- 
estum." Repugnantem huic sententiae Vinium Laco mina- 
10 citer invasit, stimulante Icelo privati odii pertinacia in pub- 
licum exitium. 

XXXIV. Nee diutius Galba cunctatus, speciosiora sua- 
dentibus accessit. Praemissus tamen in castra Piso, ut ju- 
venis magno nomine, recenti favore, et infensus T. Vinio, 

15 seu quia erat, seu quia irati ita volebant ; et facilius de odio 
creditur. Vix dum egresso Pisone, occisum in castris Otho- 
nem, vagus primum et incertus rumor : mox, ut in magnis 
mendaciis, interfuisse se quidam et vidisse affirmabant, cre- 
dula fama inter gaudentes et incuriosos. Multi arbitraban- 

20 tur compositum auctumque rumorem mixtis jam Othonia- 
nis, qui ad evocandum Galbam laeta falso vulgaverint. 

XXXV. Turn vero non populus tantum et imperita plebs 
in plausus et immodica studia, sed equitum plerique ac 
senatorum, posito metu incauti, refractis palatii foribus 

25 ruere intus, ac se Galbae ostentare, praereptam sibi ultio- 
nem querentes. Ignavissimus quisque et, ut res docuit, in 
periculo non ausurus, nimii verbis, linguae ferocis : nemo 
scire, et omnes affirmare, donee inopia veri et consensu er- 
rantium victus, sumpto thorace, Galba, irruenti turbae ne- 

30 que aetate neque corpore sis tens, sella levaretur. Obvius 
in palatio Julius Atticus speculator, cruentum gladium os- 
tentans, occisum a se Othonem exclamavit. Et Galba, 
" Commilito," inquit, " quis jussit ?" insigni animo ad coer- 
cendam militarem licentiam, minantibus intrepidus, adver- 

35 sus blandientes incorruptus. 

XXXVI. Haud dubiae jam in castris omnium mentes ; 
tantusque ardor, ut non contenti agmine et corporibus, in 
suggestu, in quo paulo ante aurea Galbae statua fuerat, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XXXVII. 47 

medium inter signa Othonem vexillis circumdarent. Nee 
tribunis aut centurionibus adeundi locus : gregarius miles 
caveri insuper praepositos jubebat. Strepere cuncta cla- 
moribus et tumultu et exhortatione mutua, non tanquam in 
populo ac plebe, variis segni adulatione vocibus, sed, ut 5 
quemque affluentium militum aspexerant, prensare manibus, 
complecti armis, colloeare juxta, praeire sacramentum, modo 
imperatorem militibus, modo milites imperatori commendare. 
Nee deerat Otho protendens manus adorare vulgum, jacere 
oscula, et omnia serviliter pro dominatione. Postquam uni- 10 
versa classicorum legio sacramentum ejus accepit, fidens 
viribus et quos adbuc singulos exstimulaverat, accendendos 
in commune ratus, pro vallo castrorum ita coepit : 

XXXVII. " Quis ad vos processerim, commilitones, di- 
cere non possum: quia nee privatum me vocare sustineo 15 
princeps a vobis nominatus, nee principem alio imperante. 
Yestrum quoque nomen in incerto erit, donee dubitabitur 
imperatorem populi Romani in castris an hostem habeatis. 
Auditisne, ut poena mea et supplicium vestrum simul pos- 
tulentur ? adeo manifestum est, neque perire nos neque 20 
salvos esse nisi una posse. Et cujus lenitatis est Galba, 
jam fortasse promisit, ut qui, nullo exposcente, tot millia 
innocentissimorum militum trucidaverit. Horror animum 
subit, quotiens recordor feralem introitum et hanc solam 
Galbae victoriam, cum in oculis urbis decumari deditos ju- 25 
beret, quos deprecantes in fidem acceperat. His auspiciis 
urbem ingressus, quam gloriam ad principatum attulit nisi 
occisi Obultronii Sabini et Cornelii Marcelli in Hispania, 
Betui Chilonis in Gallia, Fonteii Capitonis in Germania, 
Clodii Macri in Africa, Cingonii in via, Turpiliani in urbe, 30 
Nymphidii in castris ? Quae usquam provincia, quae castra 
sunt, nisi cruenta et maculata, aut, ut ipse praedicat, emen- 
data et correcta ? Nam quae alii scelera, hie remedia vo- 
cat, dum falsis nominibus severitatem pro saevitia, parcimo- 
niam pro avaritia, supplicia et contumelias vestras discipli- 35 
nam appellat. Septem a Neronis fine menses sunt, et jam 
plus rapuit Icelus, quam quod Polycliti et Vatinii et Aegiali 
paraverunt. Minore avaritia ac licentia grassatus esset T. 



48 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822.- 

Vinius, si ipse imperasset : nunc et subjectos nos habuit 
tanquam suos, et viles ut alienos. Una ilia domus sufficit 
donativo, quod vobis nunquam datur et quotidie expro- 
bratur. 
5 XXXYIII. " Ac ne qua saltern in successore Galbae 
spes esset, arcessit ab exsilio, quern tristitia et avaritia sui 
simillimum judicabat. Yidistis, commilitones, notabili tem- 
pestate etiam deos infaustam adoptionem adversantes. Idem 
senatus, idem populi Romani, animus est. Yestra virtus 

10 exspectatur, apud quos omne honestis consiliis robur, et 
sine quibus, quamvis egregia, invalida sunt. Non ad bellum 
vos nee ad periculum voco : omnium militum arma nobis- 
cum sunt. Nee una cohors togata defendit nunc Galbam, 
sed detinet. Cum vos aspexerit, cum signum meum acce- 

15 perit, hoc solum erit certamen, quis mihi plurimum imputet. 
Nullus cunctationis locus est in eo consilio, quod non potest 
laudari nisi peractum." Aperire deinde armamentarium 
jussit : rapta statim arma sine more et ordine militiae, ut 
praetorianus aut legionarius insignibus suis distingueretur : 

20 miscentur auxiliaribus galeis scutisque ; nullo tribunorum 
centurionumve adhortante, sibi quisque dux et instigator : 
et praecipuum pessimorum incitamentum, quod boni mae- 
rebant. 

XXXIX. Jam exterritus Piso fremitu crebrescentis se- 

25 ditionis et vocibus in urbem usque resonantibus, egressum 
interim Galbam et foro appropinquantem assecutus erat : 
jam Marius Celsus haud laeta retulerat ; cum alii in pala- 
tium redire, alii capitolium petere, plerique rostra occupan- 
da censerent, plures tantum sententiis aliorum contradice- 

30 rent, utque evenit in consiliis infelicibus, optima viderentur, 
quorum tempus efFugerat. Agitasse Laco, ignaro Galba, 
de occidendo T. Yinio.dicitur, sive ut poena ejus animos 
militum mulceret, seu conscium Othonis credebat, ad po- 
stremum vel odio. Haesitationem attulit tempus ac locus, 

35 quia, initio caedis orto, difficilis modus : et turbavere con- 
silium trepidi nuntii ac proximorum diffugia, languentibus 
omnium studiis qui primo alacres fidem atque animum 
ostentaverant. 



A. C. 69,] LIBER. I. CAP. XL, XLI, XLII. 49 

XL. Agebatur hue illuc Galba vario turbae fluctuantis 
impulsu, completis undique basilicis ac templis, lugubri 
prospectu: neque populi aut plebis ulla vox, sed attoniti 
vultus et conversae ad omnia aures : non tumultus, non 
quies, quale magni nietus et magnae irae silentium est. 5 
Othoni tamen armari plebem nuntiabatur. Ire praecipites 
et occupare pericula jubet. Igitur milites Romani, quasi 
Vologesen aut Pacorum avito Arsacidarum solio depulsuri, 
ac non imperatorem suum inermem et senem trucidare 
pergerent, disjecta plebe, proculcato senatu, truces armis, 10 
rapidi equis forum irrumpunt : nee illos capitolii aspectus 
et imminentium templorum religio et priores et futuri 
principes terruere, quo minus facerent scelus, cujus ultor 
est quisquis successit. 

XLI. Yiso cominus armatorum agmine, vexillarius co- 15 
mitatae Galbam cohortis (Atilium Yergilionem fuisse tra- 
dunt) dereptam Galbae imaginem solo afflixit. Eo signo 
manifesta in Othonem omnium militum studia, desertum 
fuga populi forum, destricta adversus dubitantes tela. 
Juxta Curtii lacum, trepidatione ferentium Galba projectus 20 
e sella ac provolutus est. Extremam ejus vocem, ut cuique 
odium aut admiratio fuit, varie prodidere. Alii, suppliciter 
interrogasse, quid mali meruisset ? paucos dies exsolvendo 
donativo deprecatum : plures, obtulisse ultro percussoribus 
jugulum: agerent ac ferirent, si ita e republica videretur : 25 
non interfuit occidentium, quid diceret. De percussore 
non satis constat : quidam Terentium evocatum, alii Le- 
canium; crebriorfama tradidit Camurium quintaedecimae 
legionis militem, impresso gladio, jugulum ejus bausisse. 
Ceteri crura brachiaque (nam pectus tegebatur) foede 30 
laniavere : pleraque vulnera feritate et saevitia trunco jam 
corpori adjecta. 

XLII. Titum inde Vinium invasere ; de quo et ipso am- 
bigitur, consumpseritne vocem ejus ins tans metus, an pro- 
clamaverit, non esse ab Othone mandatum, ut occideretur. 35 
Quod seu finxit formidine, seu conscientia conjurationis 
confessus est : hue potius ejus vita famaque inclinat, ut 
conscius sceleris fuerit, cujus causa erat, Ante aedem divi 

5 



50 V. CORK. TACIT J HISTOR. [a. U. 822, 

Julii jacuit, primo ictu in poplitem, max ab Julia Caro 
legionario milite in utrumque latus transverberatus. 

XLIII. Insignem ilia die virum Sempronium Densum 
aetas nostra vidit. Centurio is praetoriae cohortis, a Galba 
5 custodiae Pisonis additus, stricto pugione occurrens armatis 
et scelus exprobrans, ac modo mann, modo voce, vertendo 
m se percussores, qnamquam vulnerato Pisoni effugium 
dedit. Piso in aedem Yestae pervasit, exceptusque mise- 
ricordia publici servi et contubernio ejus abditus, non reli- 

10 gione nee caerimoniis, sed latebra imminens exitium differe- 
bat; cum advenere, missu Othonis, nominatim in caedem 
ejus ardentes, Sulpicius Florus e Britannicis cobortibus 
nuper a Galba civitate donatus, et Statius Murcus specula- 
tor : a quibus protractus Piso, in foribus templi trucidatur. 

15 XLIV. Nullam caedem Otho majore laetitia excepisse, 
nullum caput tam insatiabilibus oculis perlustrasse dicitur, 
seu turn primum levata omni solicitudine mens vacare gau- 
dio coeperat, seu recordatio majestatis in Galba, amicitiae 
in T. Yinio, quamvis immitem animum imagine tristi con- 

20 fuderat : Pisonis, ut inimici et aemuli, caede laetari, jus 
fasque credebat. Praefixa contis capita gestabantur inter 
signa coliortium juxta aquilam legionis, certatim ostentan- 
tibus cruentas manus, qui occiderant, qui interfuerant, qui 
vere, qui falso, ut pulchrum et memorabile facinus, jacta- 

25 bant. Plures quam centum et viginti libellos praemium 
exposcentium ob aliquam notabilem ilia die operam Yitellius 
postea invenit : omnesque conquiri et interfici jussit, non 
honore Galbae, sed tradito principibus more, munimentum 
ad praesens, in posterum ultionem. 

30 XLY. Alium crederes senatum, alium populum : ruere 
cuncti in castra, anteire proximos, certare cum praecurren- 
tibus, increpare Galbam, laudare militum judicium, exoscu- 
lari Othonis manum; quantoque magis falsa erant, quae 
fiebant, tanto plura facere. Non aspernabatur singulos 

35 Otbo, avidum et minacem militum animum voce vultuque 
temperans. Marium Celsum consulem designatum et Gal- 
bae usque in extremas res amicum fidumque, ad supplicium 
expostulabant, industriae ejus innocentiaeque, quasi malis 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XLVI, XLVII. 51 

artibus, infensi. Caedis et praedarum initium et optimo 
cuique perniciem quaeri apparebat : sed Othoni- nondum 
auctoritas inerat ad prohibendum scelus ; jubere jam po- 
terat. Ita simulatione irae, vinciri jussum et ma j ores poe- 
nas daturum affirmans, praesenti exitio subtraxit. 5 

XLYI. Omnia deinde arbitrio militum acta. Praetorii 
praefectos sibi ipsi legere, Plotium Firmum e manipularibus 
quondam, turn vigilibus praepositum et, incolumi adhuc 
Galba, partes Otbonis secutum. Adjungitur Licinius Pro- 
culus, intima familiaritate Otbonis, suspectus consilia ejus 10 
fovisse. Urbi Flavium Sabinum praefecere, judicium Ne- 
ronis secuti, sub quo eandem curam obtinuerat, plerisque 
Yespasianum fratrem in eo respicientibus. Flagitatum, ut 
vacationes praestari centurionibus solitae remitterentur : 
namque gregarius miles ut tributum annuum pendebat. 15 
Quarta pars manipuli sparsa per commeatus aut in ipsis 
castris vaga, dum mercedem centurioni exsolveret; neque 
modum oneris quisquam, neque genus quaestus pensi habe- 
bat : per latrocinia et raptus aut servilibus ministeriis mili- 
tare otium redimebant. Turn locupletissimus quisque miles 20 
labore ac saevitia fatigari, donee vacationem emeret: ubi 
sumptibus exhaustus socordia insuper elanguerat, inops pro 
locuplete et iners pro strenuo in manipulum redibat: ac 
rursus alius atque alius, eadem egestate ac licentia corrupti, 
ad seditiones et discordias, et ad extremum bella civilia 25 
ruebant. Sed Otho, ne vulgi largitione centurionum animos 
averteret, fiscum suum vacationes annuas exsoluturum pro- 
misit, rem haud dubie utilem et a bonis postea principibus 
perpetuitate disciplinae firmatam. Laco praefectus, tan- 
quam in insulam seponeretur, ab evocato, quern ad caedem 30 
ejus Otho praemiserat, confossus : in Marcianum Icelum, 
ut in libertum, palam animadversum. 

XLYII. Exacto per scelera die, novissimum malorum 
fuit laetitia. Yocat senatum praetor urbanus : certant ad- 
ulationibus ceteri magistratus. Accurrunt patres : decer- 35 
nitur Othoni tribunicia potestas et nomen Augusti et omnes 
principum honores, annitentibus cunctis abolere convicia ac 
probra, quae promiscue jacta haesisse animo ejus nemo 



52 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

sensit. Omisisset offensas an distulisset, brevitate imperii 
in incerto fuit. Otho, cruento adhuc foro, per stragem 
jacentium in capitolium atque inde in palatium vectus, con- 
cedi corpora sepulturae cremarique permisit. Pisonem Ye- 
5 rania uxor ac frater Scribonianus, T. Yinium Crispina filia 
composuere, quaesitis redemptisque capitibus, quae venalia 
interfectores servaverant. 

XLYIII. Piso unum et tricesimum aetatis annum exple- 
bat, fama meliore quam fortuna. Fratres ejus Magnum 

10 Claudius, Crassum Nero interfecerant. Ipse diu exsul, 
quatriduo Caesar, properata adoptione ad hoc tantum ma- 
jori fratri praelatus est, ut prior occideretur. T. Yinius 
quinquaginta septem annos variis moribus egit. Pater illi 
praetoria familia, maternus avus e proscriptis. Prima mili- 

15 tia infamis, legatum Calvisium Sabinum habuerat ; cujus 
uxor mala cupidine visendi situm castrorum, per noctem 
militari habitu ingressa, cum vigilias et cetera militiae mu- 
nia eadem lascivia temperasset, in ipsis principiis stuprum 
ausa : et criminis hujus reus T. Yinius arguebatur. Igitur 

20 jussu C. Caesaris oneratus catenis, mox mutatione tempo- 
rum dimissus, cursu honorum inofFenso legioni post prae- 
turam praepositus probatusque : servili deinceps probro 
respersus est, tanquam scyphum aureum in convivio Claudii 
furatus-: et Claudius postera die soli omnium Yinio fictili- 

25 bus ministrari jussit. Sed Yinius proconsulatu Galliam 
Narbonensem severe integreque rexit : mox Galbae amici- 
tia in abruptum tractus, audax, callidus, promptus, et, 
prout animum intendisset, pravus aut industrius, eadem vi. 
Testamentum T. Vinii magnitudine opum irritum : Pisonis 

30 supremam voluntatem paupertas firmavit. 

XLIX. Galbae corpus diu neglectum et licentia tenebra- 
rum plurimis ludibriis vexatum, dispensator Argius e prio- 
ribus servis, humili sepultura in privatis ejus hortis contexit. 
Caput, per lixas calonesque suffixum laceratumque, ante 

35 Patrobii tumulum (libertus is Neronis punitus a Galba fue- 
rat) postera demum die repertum et cremato jam corpori 
admixtum est. Hunc exitum habuit Ser. Galba, tribus et 
septuaginta annis quinque principes prospera fortuna emen- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. L, LI. 53 

sus et alieno imperio felicior quam suo. Vetus in familia 
nobilitas, magnae opes : ipsi medium ingenium, magis extra 
vitia, quam cum virtutibus. Famae nee incuriosus nee ven- 
ditator. Pecuniae alienae non appetens, suae parcus, pub- 
licae a varus. Amicorum libertorumque, ubi in bonos inci- 5 
disset, sine repreliensione patiens ; si mali forent, usque ad 
culpam ignarus. Sed claritas natalium et metus temporum 
obtentui, ut, quod segnitia erat, sapientia vocaretur. Dum 
vigebat aetas, militari laude apud Germanias floruit. Pro 
consule Africam moderate ; jam senior citeriorem Hispa- 10 
niam pari justitia continuit, major privato visus, dum priva- 
tus fuit, et omnium consensu capax imperii, nisi imperasset. 

L. Trepidam urbem, ac simul atrocitatem recentis sceleris, 
simul veteres Othonis mores paventem, novus insuper de 
Vitellio nuntius exterruit, ante caedem Galbae suppressus, 15 
ut tantum superioris Germaniae exercitum descivisse crede- 
retur. Turn duos, omnium mortalium impudicitia, ignavia, 
luxuria deterrimos velut ad perdendum imperium fataliter 
electos non senatus modo et eques, quis aliqua pars et cura 
reipublicae, sed vulgus quoque palam maerere. Nee jam 20 
recentia saevae pacis exempla, sed repetita bellorum civi- 
lium memoria captam totiens suis exercitibus urbem, vasti- 
tatem Italiae, direptiones provinciarum, Pharsaliam, Philip- 
pos, et Perusiam ac Mutinam, nota publicarum cladium no- 
mina, loquebantur. Prope eversum orbem, etiam cum de 25 
principatu inter bonos certaretur : sed mansisse C. Julio, 
mansisse Caesare Augusto victore imperium ; mansuram 
fuisse sub Pompeio Brutoque rempublicam. Nunc pro. 
Othone, an pro Vitellio, in templa ituros ? Utrasque impias 
preces, utraque detestanda vota, inter duos, quorum bello 30 
solum id scires, deteriorem fore qui vicisset. Erant, qui 
Vespasianum et arma Orientis augurarentur : et ut potior 
utroque Vespasianus, ita bellum aliud atque alias clades 
horrebant. Et ambigua de Yespasiano fama ; solusque 
omnium ante se principum in melius mutatus est. 35 

LI. Nunc initia causasque motus Vitelliani expediam. 
Caeso cum omnibus copiis Julio Vindice, ferox praeda glo- 
riaque exercitus, ut cui sine labore ac periculo ditissimi belli 

5* 



54 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

victoria evenisset, expeditionem et aciem, praemia quam 
stipendia malebat. Diu infructuosam et asperam militiam 
toleraverant ingenio loci coelique et severitate disciplinae, 
^ quam in pace inexorabilem discordiae civium resolvunt, pa- 
5 ratis utrimque corruptoribus et perfidia impunita. Viri, 
arma, equi ad usum et ad decus supererant : sed ante bel- 
lum centurias tantum suas turmasque noverant ; exercitus 
finibus provinciarum discernebantur. Turn adversus Vin- 
dicem contractae legiones, seque et Gallias expertae, quae- 

10 rere rursus arma novasque discordias ; nee socios, ut olim, 
sed hostes et victos vocabant. Nee deerat pars Galliarum, 
quae Rhenum accolit, easdem partes secuta, ac turn acer- 
rima instigatrix adversus Galbianos : hoc enim nomen, fas- 
tidito Yindice, indiderant. Igitur Sequanis Aeduisque ac 

15 deinde, prout opulentia civitatibus erat, infensi, expugna- 
tiones urbium, populationes agrorum, raptus penatium 
hauserunt animo, super avaritiam et arrogantiam, praecipua 
validiorum vitia, contumacia Gallorum irritati, qui remis- 
sam sibi a Galba quartam tributorum partem et publice do- 

20 natos in ignominiam exercitus jactabant. Accessit callide 
vulgatum, temere creditum, decumari legiones et promptis- 
simum quemque centurionum dimitti : undique atroces nun- 
tii, sinistra ex urbe fama : infensa Lugdunensis colonia, et, 
pertinaci pro Nerone fide, fecunda rumoribus. Sed plurima 

25 ad fingendum credendumque materies in ipsis castiis, odio, 
metu et, ubi vires suas respexerant, securitate. 

LIL Sub ipsas superioris anni Kalendas Decembres Au- 
lus Vitellius, inferiorem Germaniam ingressus, hiberna legi- 
onum cum cura adierat : redditi plerisque ordines, remissa 

30 ignominia, allevatae notae, plura ambitione, quaedam judi- 
cio, in quibus sordem et avaritiam Fonteii Capitonis adi- 
mendis assignandisve militiae ordinibus integre mutaverat. 
Nee consularis legati mensura, sed in majus omnia accipie- 
bantur : et Vitellius apud severos humilis ; ita comitatem : 

35 bonitatemque faventes vocabant, quod sine modo, sine judi- 
cio donaret sua, largiretur aliena ; simul aviditate imperandi 
ipsa vitia pro virtutibus interpretabantur. Multi in utroque 
exercitu sicut modesti quietique, ita mali et strenui ; sed 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I, CAP, LIII, LIV, 55 

profusa cupidine et insigni temeritate legati legionum Alie- 
nus Caecina et Fabius Valens : e quibus Valens infensus 
Galbae tanquam detectam a se Verginii cunctationem, op- 
pressa Capitonis consilia ingrate tulisset, instigare Vitellium, 
ardorem militum ostentans. "' Ipsum celebri ubique fama, 5 
nullam in Flacco Hordeonio moram ; affore Britanniam, se- 
cutura Germanorum auxilia : male fidas provincias, preca- 
rium seni imperium et brevi transiturum : panderet modo 
sinum et venienti Fortunae occurreret. Merito dubitasse 
Verginiuni equestri familia, ignoto patre, imparem, si rece- 10 
pisset imperium, tutum, si recusasset. Vitellio tres patris 
consulatus, censuram, collegium Caesaris imponere jampri- 
dem imperatoris dignationem, auferre privati securitatem." 
Quatiebatur his segne ingenium, ut concupisceret magis 
quam ut speraret, 15 

LIIL At in superiore Germania Caecina decora juventa, 
corpore ingens, animi immodicus, scito sermone, erecto in- 
cessu, studia militum illexerat. Hunc juvenem Galba, 
quaestorem in Baetica impigre in partes suas iransgressum, 
legioni praeposuit ; mox compertum publicam pecuniam 20 
avertisse ut peculatorem flagitari jussit. Caecina aegre 
passus, miscere cuncta et privata vulnera reipublicae malis 
operire statuit. Nee deerant in exercitu semina discordiae, 
quod et bello adversus Vindieem universus affuerat, nee 
nisi oceiso Nerone translatus in Galbam, atque in eo ipso 25 
sacramento vexillis inferioris Germaniae praeventus erat. 
Et Treveri ac Lingones, quasque alias civitates atrocibus 
edictis aut damno finium Galba perculerat, hibernis legio- 
num propius miscentur. Unde seditiosa colloquia, et inter 
paganos corruptior miles, et in Verginium favor, cuicumque 30 
alii profuiurus. 

LIV. Miserat civitas Lingonum vetere instituto dona le- 
gionibus, dextras, hospitii insigne. Legati eorum in squalo- 
rem maestitiamque compositi, per principia, per contuber- 
nia, modo suas injurias, modo vicinarum civitatium praemia, 35 
et, ubi proms militum auribus accipiebantur, ipsius exercitus 
pericula et contumelias conquerentes, accendebant animos. 
Nee procul seditione aberant, cum Hordeonius Flaccus abire 



56 C. CORN. TAC1TI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Iegatos, utque occultior digressus esset, nocte castris exce- 
dere jubet. Inde atrox rumor, affirmantibus plerisque in- 
terfectos, ac, nisi ipsi consulerent, fore, ut acerrimi mili- 
tum, et praesentia conquesti, per tenebras et inscitiam cete- 
5 rorum occiderentur. Obstringuntur inter se tacito foe- 
dere legiones. Asciscitur auxiliorum miles, primo sus- 
pectus, tanquam circumdatis cohortibus alisque impetus 
in legiones pararetur, mox eadem acrius volvens, faciliore 
inter malos consensu ad bellum quam in pace ad concor- 

10 diam. 

LV. Inferioris tamen Germaniae legiones solenni Kalen- 
darum Januariarum sacramento pro Galba adactae, multa 
cunctatione et raris primorum ordinum vocibus: ceteri 
silentio proximi cujusque audaciam exspectantes, insita 

15 mortalibus natura propere sequi quae piget inchoare. Sed 
ipsis legionibus inerat diversitas animorum. Primani quin- 
tanique turbidi adeo ut quidam saxa in Galbae imagines 
jecerint : quintadecima ac sextadecima legiones, nihil ultra 
fremitum et minas ausae, initium erumpendi circumspecta- 

20 bant. At in superiore exercitu quarta ac duodevicesima 
legiones, iisdem hibernis tendentes, ipso Kalendarum Janu- 
ariarum die dirumpunt imagines Galbae, quarta legio 
promptius, duodevicesima cunctanter, mox consensu. Ac 
ne reverentiam imperii exuere viderentur, senatus populique 

25 Romani obliterate jam nomina sacramento advocabant, 
nullo legatorum tribunorumve pro Galba nitente, quibus- 
dam, ut in tumultu, notabilius turban tibus. Non tamen 
quisquam in modum concionis aut suggestu locutus : neque 
enim erat adhuc, cui imputaretur. 

30 LYI. Spectator flagitii Hordeonius Flaccus consularis 
legatus aderat, non compescere ruentes, non retinere dubios, 
non eohortari bonos ausus, sed segnis, pavidus et socordia 
innocens. Quatuor centuriones duodevicesimae legionis, 
Nonius Receptus, Donatius Valens, Romilius Marcellus, 

35 Calpurnius Repentinus, cum protegerent Galbae imagines, 
impetu militum abrepti vinctique. Nee cuiquam ultra fides 
aut memoria prioris sacramenti, sed quod in seditionibus 
accidit, unde plures erant, omnes fuere. Nocte, quae 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LVII, LVIII. 57 

Kalendas Januarias secuta est, in coloniam Agrippinensem 
aquilifer quartae legionis epulanti Vitellio nuntiat, quartam 
et duodevicesimam legiones, projectis Galbae imaginibus, 
in senatus ac populi Romani verba jurasse. Id sacramen- 
tum inane visum : occupari nutantem fortunam, et offerri 5 
principem placuit. Missi a Yitellio ad legiones legatosque, 
qui descivisse a Galba superiorem exercitum nuntiarent : 
proinde aut bellandum adversus desciscentes, aut, si con- 
cordia et pax placeat, faciendum imperatorem; et minore 
discrimine sumi principem, quam quaeri. 10 

LVII. Proxima legionis primae hiberna erant, et promp- 
tissimus e legatis Fabius Valens. Is die proximo coloniam 
Agrippinensem cum equitibus egionis auxiliariorumque 
gressus, imperatorem Vitellium consalutavit. Secutae in- 
genti certamine ejusdem provinciae legiones ; et superior 15 
exercitus, speciosis senatus populique Romani nominibus 
relictis, tertium Nonas Januarias Vitellio accessit : scires 
ilium priore biduo non penes rempublicam fuisse. Ardorem 
exercituum Agrippinenses, Treveri, Lingones aequabant, 
auxilia, equos, arma, pecunias offerentes, ut quisque cor- 20 
pore, opibus, ingenio validus. Nee principes modo colo- 
niarum aut castrorum, quibus praesentia ex affluenti et 
parta victoria magnae spes : sed manipuli quoque et gre- 
garius miles viatica sua et balteos phalerasque, insignia 
armorum argento decora, loco pecuniae tradebant, instinctu 25 
et impetu et avaritia. 

LVIII. Igitur laudata militum alacritate, Vitellius mi- 
nisteria principatus per libertos agi solita in equites Roma- 
nos disponit; vacationes centurionibus ex fisco numerat; 
saevitiam militum plerosque ad poenam exposcentium sae- 30 
pius approbat, partim simulatione vinculorum frustratur. 
Pompeius Propinquus procurator Belgicae statim interfec- 
tus. Julium Burdonem Germanicae classis praefectum 
astu subtraxit. Exarserat in eum iracundia exercitus, tan- 
quam crimen ac mox insidias Fonteio Capitoni struxisset. 35 
Grata erat memoria Capitonis ; et apud saevientes occidere 
palam, ignoscere non nisi fallendo licebat. Ita in custodia 
habitus, et post victoriam demum, stratis jam militum 



58 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

odiis, dimissus est. Interim, ut piaculum, objicitur centurio 
Crispinus : sanguine Capitonis se cruentaverat ; eoque et 
postulantibus manifestior et punienti vilior fuit. 

LIX. Julius deinde Civilis periculo exemptus, praepotens 
5 inter Batavos, ne supplicio ejus ferox gens alienaretur. Et 
erant in civitate Lingonum octo Batavorum cohortes, quartae- 
decimae legionis auxilia, turn discordia temporum a legione 
digressae, prout inclinassent, grande momentum sociae aut 
adversae. Nonium, Donatium, Romilium, Calpurnium cen- 

10 turiohes, de quibus supra retulimus, occidi jussit, damnatos 
fidei crimine, gravissimo inter desciscentes. Accessere 
partibus Valerius Asiaticus Belgicae provinciae legatus, 
quern mox Vitellius generum ascivit, et Junius Blaesus 
Lugdunensis Galliae rector, cum Italica legione et ala 

15 Taurina, Lugduni tendentibus. Nee in Raeticis copiis 
mora, quo minus statim adjungerentur. 

LX. Ne in Britannia quidem dubitatum. Praeerat Tre- 
bellius Maximus, per avaritiam et sordes contemptus exer- 
citui invisusque. Accendebat odium ejus Roscius Caelius 

20 legatus vicesimae legionis, olim discors, sed occasione civi- 
lium armorum atrocius proruperat. Trebellius seditionem 
et confusum ordinem disciplinae Caelio, spoliatas et inopes 
legiones Caelius Trebellio objectabat, cum interim foedis 
legatorum certaminibus modestia exercitus corrupta, eoque 

25 discordiae ventum, ut auxiliarium quoque militum conviciis 
proturbatus et, aggregantibus se Caelio cohortibus alisque, 
desertus Trebellius ad Yitellium perfugerit : quies provin- 
ciae, quanquam remoto consulari, mansit : rexere legati 
legionum, pares jure, Caelius audendo potentior. 

30 LXI. Adjuncto Britannico exercitu, ingens viribus opi- 
busque Yitellius duos duces, duo itinera bello destinavit. 
Fabius Yalens allicere vel, si abnuerent, vastare Gallias, et 
Cottianis Alpibus Italiam irrumpere, Caecina propiore tran- 
situ, Peninis jugis degredi jussus. Valenti inferioris exer- 

35 citus electi cum aquila quintae legionis et cohortibus alisque, 
ad quadraginta millia armatorum data : triginta millia Cae- 
cina e superiore Germania ducebat, quorum robur legio 
una, primaetvicesima, fuit : addita utrique Germanorum 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I, CAP. LXII, LXIII, LXIV. 59 

auxilia, e quibus Yitellius suas quoque copias supplevit, 
tota mole belli secuturus. 

LXII. Mira inter exercitum imperatoremque diversitas, 
Instare miles, arma poscere, dum Galliae trepident, dum 
Hispaniae cunctentur : non obstare hiemem neque ignavae 5 
pacis moras ; invadendam Italiam, occupandam urbem : 
nihil in discordiis civilibus festinatione tutius, ubi facto 
magis quam consulto opus esset. Torpebat Yitellius, et 
fortunam principatus inert! luxu ac prodigis epulis praesu- 
mebat, medio diei temulentus et sagina gravis, cum tamen 10 
ardor et vis militum ultro ducis munia implebat, ut si ades- 
set imperator et strenuis vel ignavis spem metumque ad- 
deret. Instructi intentique signum profectionis exposcunt. 
Nomen Germanici Vitellio statim additum : Caesarem se 
appellari etiam victor prohibuit. Laetum augurium Fabio 15 
Valenti exercituique, quern in bellum agebat, ipso profec- 
tionis die aquila leni meatu, prout agmen incederet, velut 
dux viae praevolavit : longumque per spatium is gauden- 
tium militum clamor, ea quies interritae alitis fuit, ut haud 
dubium magnae et prosperae rei omen acciperetur. 20 

LXIII. Et Treveros quidem, ut socios, securi adiere. 
Divoduri (Mediomatricorum id oppidum est) quanquam 
omni comitate exceptos subitus pavor terruit, raptis re- 
pente armis ad caedem innoxiae civitatis, non ob praedam 
aut spoliandi cupidinem, sed furore et rabie et causis incertis 25 
eoque difficilioribus remediis, donee precibus ducis mitigati 
ab excidio civitatis temperavere ; caesa tamen ad quatuor 
millia hominum. Isque terror Gallias invasit, ut venienti 
mox agmini universae civitates cum magistratibus et preci- 
bus occurrerent, stratis per vias pueris feminisque, quaeque 30 
alia placamenta hostilis irae, non quidem in bello, sed pro 
pace tendebantur. 

LXIV. Nuntium de caede Galbae et imperio Othonis, 
Fabius Yalens in civitate Leucorum accepit. Nee militum 
animus in gaudium aut formidinem permotus : bellum vol- 35 
vebat. Gallis cunctatio exempta, et in Othonem ac Yitel- 
lium odium par, ex Yitellio et metus. Proxima Lingonum 
civitas erat, fida partibus : benigne exCepti, modestia certa- 



60 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

vere ; sed brevis laetitia fuit cohortium intemperie, quas a 
legione quartadecima, ut supra memoravimus, digressas 
exercitui suo Fabius Valens adjunxerat, Jurgia primum, 
mox rixa inter Batavos et legionaries, dum his aut illis studia 
5 militum aggregantur, prope in proelium exarsere, ni Valens 
animadversione paucorum oblitos jam Batavos imperii ad- 
monuisset. Frustra ad versus Aeduos quaesita belli causa. 
Jussi pecuniam atque arma deferre, gratuitos insuper com- 
meatus praebuere : quod Aedui formidine, Lugdunenses 

10 gaudio fecere. Sed legio Italica et ala Taurina abductae. 
Cohortem duodevicesimam Lugduni, solitis sibi hibernis, 
relinqui placuit. Manlius Yalens legatus Italicae legionis, 
quanquam bene de partibus meritus, nullo apud Vitellium 
honore fuit : secretis eum criminationibus infamaverat Fa- 

15 bius ignarum et, quo incautior deciperetur, palam laudatum. 

LXV. Yeterem inter Lugdunenses Viennensesque dis- 

cordiam proximum bellum accenderat : multae invicem cla- 

des crebrius infestiusque, quam ut tantum propter Neronem 

Galbamque pugnaretur. Et Galba reditus Lugdunensium 

20 occasione irae in fiscum verterat ; multus contra in Vien- 
nenses honor : unde aemulatio et invidia et uno amne dis- 
cretis connexum odium. Igitur Lugdunenses exstimulare 
singulos militum et in eversionem Viennensium impellere, 
obsessam ab illis coloniam suam, adjutos Vindicis conatus, 

25 conscript as nuper legiones in praesidium Galbae referendo : 
et ubi causas odiorum praetenderant, magnitudinem prae- 
dae ostendebant. Nee jam secreta exhortatio, sed publicae 
preces : " Irent ultores, exscinderent sedem Gallici belli : 
cuncta illic externa et hostilia ; se coloniam Romanam et 

30 partem exercitus et prosperarum adversarumque rerum 
socios : si fortuna contra daret, iratis ne relinquerentur." 

LXYI. His et pluribus in eundem modum perpulerant, 
ut ne legati quidem ac duces partium restingui posse ira- 
cundiam exercitus arbitrarentur, cum haud ignari discrimi- 

35 nis sui Viennenses, velamenta et infulas praeferentes, ubi 
agmen incesserat, arma, genua, vestigia prensando flexere 
militum animos. Addidit Valens trecenos singulis militibus 
sestertios : turn vetustas dignitasque coloniae valuit, et 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXVII, LXVIII. 61 

verba Fabii salutem incolumitatemque Viennensium com- 
mendantis aequis auribus accepta : publice tamen armis 
mulctati, privatis et promiscuis copiis juvere militem. Sed 
fama constans fuit ipsum Yalentem magna pecunia emptum. 
Is diu sordidus, repente dives, mutationem fortunae male 5 
tegebat, accensis egestate longa cupidinibus immoderatus, 
et inopi juventa senex prodigus. Lento deinde agmine per 
fines Allobrogum et Vocontionim ductus exercitus, ipsa 
itinerum spatia et stativorum mutationes venditante duce, 
foedis pactionibus adversus possessores agrorum et magis- 10 
tratus civitatum, adeo minaciter, ut Luco (municipium id 
Vocontionim est) faces admoverit, donee pecunia mitiga- 
retur : quotiens pecuniae materia deesset, stupris et adul- 
teriis exorabatur. Sic ad Alpes perventum. 

LXVII. Plus praedae ac sanguinis Caecina hausit. Ir- 15 
ritaverant turbidum ingenium Helvetii, Gallica gens, olim 
armis virisque, mox memoria nominis clara, de caede Galbae 
ignari et Vitellii imperium abnuentes. Initium bello fuit 
avaritia ac festinatio unaetvicesimae legionis : rapuerant pe- 
cuniam missam in stipendium castelli, quod olim Helvetii 20 
suis militibus ac stipendiis tuebantur : aegre id passi Hel- 
vetii, interceptis epistolis quae nomine Germanici exercitus 
ad Pannonicas legiones ferebantur, centurionem et quosdam 
militum in custodia retinebant. Caecina belli avidus proxi- 
mam quamque culpam, antequam poeniteret, ultum ibat. 25 
Mota propere castra, vastati agri, direptus longa pace in 
modum municipii exstructus locus, amoeno salubrium aqua- 
rum usu frequens : missi ad Raetica auxilia nuntii, ut versos 
in legionem Helvetios a tergo aggrederentur. 

LXVIII. Illi ante discrimen feroces, in periculo pavidi, 30 
quanquam primo tumultu Claudium Severum ducem lege- 
rant, non arma noscere, non ordines sequi, non in unum 
consulere: exitiosum adversus veteranos proelium, intuta 
obsidio dilapsis vetustate moenibus : hinc Caecina cum va- 
lido exercitu ; inde Raeticae alae cobortesque et ipsorum 35 
Raetorum juventus, sueta armis et more militiae exercita : 
undique populatio et caedes : ipsi in medio vagi, abjectis 
armis, magna pars saucii aut palantes in montem Vocetium 

6 



62 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

perfugere. Ac statim immissa cohorte Thracum depulsi 
et, consectantibus Germanis Raetisque, per silvas atque in 
ipsis latebris trucidati. Multa hominum millia caesa, multa 
sub corona venundata ; cumque dirutis omnibus Aventicum 
5 gentis caput justo agmine peteretur, missi qui dederent 
civitatem ; et deditio accepta. In Julium Alpinum e prin- 
cipibus, ut concitorem belli, Caecina animadvertit : ceteros 
veniae vel saevitiae Yitellii reliquit. 

LXIX. Haud facile dictu est, legati Helvetiorum minus 

10 placabilem imperatorem an militem invenerint : civitatis 
excidium poscunt, tela ac manus in ora legatorum intentant. 
Ne Vitellius quidem minis ac verbis temperabat, cum Clau- 
dius Cossus, unus ex legatis, notae facundiae, sed dicendi 
artem apta trepidatione occultans atque eo validior, militis 

15 animum mitigavit, ut est mos vulgo, mutabilem subitis et 
tarn pronum in misericordiam quam immodicus saevitia 
fuerat : effusis lacrimis et meliora constantius postulando, 
impunitatem salutemque civitati impetravere. 

LXX. Caecina paucos in Helvetiis moratus dies, dum 

20 sententiae Yitellii certior fieret, simul transitum Alpium 
parans, laetum ex Italia nuntium accipit, alam Silianam 
circa Padum agentem sacramento Vitellii accessisse. Pro- 
consulem Yitellium Siliani in Africa habuerant ; mox a 
Nerone, ut in Aegyptum praemitterentur, exciti et ob bel- 

25 lum Vindicis revocati, ac turn in Italia manentes, instinctu 
decurionum, qui Othonis ignari, Vitellio obstricti robur ad- 
ventantium legionum et famam Germanici exercitus attolle- 
bant, transiere in partes : et, ut donum aliquod novo prin- 
cipi, firmissima Transpadanae regionis municipia Mediolanum 

30 ac Novariam et Eporediam ac Vercellas adjunxere. Id 
Caecinae per ipsos compertum ; et quia praesidio alae unius 
latissima pars Italiae defendi nequibat, praemissis Gallorum 
Lusitanorum Britannorumque cohortibus et Germanorum 
vexillis cum ala Petrina, ipse paululum cunctatus, num 

35 Raeticis jugis in Koricum flecteret, adversus Petronium ibi 
procuratorem, qui concitis auxiliis et interruptis numinum 
pontibus fidus Othoni putabatur. Sed metu, ne amitteret 
praemissas jam cohortes alasque, simul reputans plus glo- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXXI, LXXII. 63 

riae retenta Italia et, ubicumque certatum foret, Noricos in 
cetera victoriae praemia cessuros, Penino itinere subsigna- 
num militem, et grave legionum agmen hibernis adhuc 
Alpibus traduxit. 

LXXI. Otho interim contra spem omnium non deliciis 5 
neque desidia torpescere : dilatae voluptates, dissimulata 
luxuria, et cuncta ad decorem imperii composita : eoque 
plus formidinis afferebant falsae virtutes et vitia reditura. 
Marium Celsum consulem designatum, per speciem vincu- 
lorum saevitiae militum subtractum, acciri in capitolium 10 
jubet : clementiae titulus e viro claro et partibus inviso 
petebatur. Celsus constanter servatae erga Galbam fidei 
crimen confessus, exemplum ultro imputavit. Nee Otho 
quasi ignosceret, sed, ne hostis metum reconciliationis ad- 
hiberet, statim inter intimos amicos habuit, et mox bello 15 
inter duces delegit : mansitque Celso velut fataliter etiam 
pro Othone fides integra et infelix. Laeta primoribus civi- 
tatis, celebrata in vulgus Celsi salus, ne militibus quidem 
ingrata fuit, eandem virtutem admirantibus cui irascebantur. 

LXXII. Par inde exsultatio disparibus causis consecuta, 20 
impetrato Tigellini exitio. Sophonius Tigellinus obscuris 
parentibus, foeda pueritia, impudica senecta, praefecturam 
vigilum et praetorii et alia praemia virtutum quia velocius 
eratvitiis adeptus, crudelitatem mox, deinde avaritiam et 
virilia scelera exercuit, corrupto ad omne f acinus Nerone, 25 
quaedam ignaro ausus ac postremo ejusdem desertor ac 
proditor. Unde non alium pertinacius ad poenam flagita- 
vere, diverso affectu, quibus odium Neronis inerat et quibus 
desiderium. Apud Galbam T. Yinii potentia defensus, 
praetexentis servatam ab eo filiam : et baud dubie servave- 30 
rat, non dementia, quippe tot interfectis, sed eflPugium in 
futurum, quia pessimus quisque, diffidentia praesentium 
mutationem parens, adversus publicum odium privatam 
gratiam praeparat ; unde nulla innocentiae cura, sed vices 
impunitatis. Eo infensior populus, addita ad vetus Tigellini 35 
odium recenti T. Vinii invidia, concurrere e tota urbe in 
palatium ac fora, et ubi plurima vulgi licentia, in circum ac 
theatra efrusi seditiosis vocibus obstrepere, donee Tigellinus, 



64 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. V. 822. 

accepto apud Sinuessanas aquas supremae necessitatis nun- 
tio, inter stupra concubinarum et oscula et deformes moras, 
sectis novacula faucibus, infamem vitam foedavit etiam 
exitu sero et inhonesto. 
5 LXXIII. Per idem tempus expostulata ad supplicium 
Galvia Crispinilla variis frustrationibus et adversa dissimu- 
lantis Principis fama periculo exempta est : magistra libidi- 
num Neronis, transgressa in Africam ad instigandum in 
arma Clodium Macrum, famem populo Romano haud ob- 

10 scure molita, totius postea civitatis gratiam obtinuit, consu- 
lari matrimonio subnixa et apud Galbam, Othonem, Vitel- 
lium illaesa, mox potens pecunia et orbitate, quae bonis 
malisque temporibus juxta valent. 

LXXIV. Crebrae interim et muliebribus blandimentis 

15 infectae ab Othone ad Vitellium epistolae offerebant pecu- 
niam et gratiam et quemcumque quietis locum prodigae 
vitae legisset. Paria Vitellius ostentabat, primo mollius, 
stulta utrimque et indecora simulatione : mox, quasi rixan- 
tes, stupra et flagitia invicem objectavere, neuter falso. 

20 Otho, revocatis quos Galba miserat legatis, rursus alios ad 
utrumque Germanicum exercitum et ad legionem Italicam 
easque, quae Lugduni agebant, copias specie senatus misit. 
Legati apu& Vitellium remansere, promptius quam ut re- 
tenti viderentur. Praetoriani, quos per simulationem officii 

25 legatis Otho adjunxerat, remissi antequam legionibus mi- 
scerentur. Addidit epistolas Fabius Yalens, nomine Ger- 
manici exercitus, ad praetorias et urbanas eohortes, de 
viribus partium magnificas et concordiam offerentes. In- 
crepabat ultro, quod tanto ante traditum Vitellio imperium 

30 ad Othonem vertissent. Ita promissis simul ac minis ten- 
tabantur, ut bello impares, in pace nihil amissuri : neque 
ideo praetorianorum fides mutata. 

LXXY. Sed insidiatores ab Othone in Germaniam, a 
Yitellio in urbem missi : utrisque frustra fuit, Vitellianis 

35 impune, per tantam hominum multitudinem, mutua igno- 
rantia fallentibus : Othoniani novitate vultus, omnibus in- 
vicem gnaris, prodebantur. Vitellius literas ad T itianum 
fratrem Othonis composuit, exitium ipsi filioque ejus mini- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXXVI, LXXVII. 65 

tans, ni incolumes sibi mater ac liberi servarentur. Et 
stetit domus utraque, sub Othone, incertum an metu ; Vi- 
tellius victor clementiae gloriam tulit. 

LXXVI. Primus Othoni fiduciam addidit ex Ill'yrico 
nuntius, jurasse in eum Dalmatiae ac Pannoniae et Moesiae 5 
legiones. Idem ex Hispania allatum, laudatusque per 
edictum Cluvius Rufus ; et statim cognitum est conversam 
ad Vitellium Hispaniam. Ne Aquitania quidem, quanquam 
a Julio Cordo in verba Othonis obstricta, diu mansit. 
Nusquam fides aut amor; metu ac necessitate hue illuc 10 
mutabantur. Eadem formido provinciam Narbonensem ad 
Vitellium vert it, facili transitu ad proximos et validiores. 
Longinquae provinciae, et quicquid armorum mari dirimitur, 
penes Othonem manebant, non partium studio, sed erat 
grande momentum in nomine urbis ac praetexto senatus, et 15 
occupaverat animos prior auditus. Judaicum exercitum 
Vespasianus, Syriae legiones Mucianus sacramento Othonis 
adegere. Simul Aegyptus omnesque versae in Orient em 
provinciae nomine ejus tenebantur. Idem Africae obse- 
quium, initio a Carthagine orto. Neque exspectata Vipstani 20 
Aproniani proconsulis auctoritate, Crescens Neronis libertus 
(nam et hi malis temporibus partem se reipublicae faciunt) 
epulum plebi ob laetitiam recent is imperii obtulerat, et 
populus pleraque sine modo festinavit. Carthaginem ce- 
terae civitates secutae. 25 

LXXVII. Sic distractis exercitibus ac provinciis, VitelHo 
quidem ad capessendam principatus fortunam bello opus 
erat. Otho, ut in multa pace, munia imperii obibat, quae- 
dam ex dignitate reipublicae, pleraque contra decus ex 
praesenti usu properando. Consul cum Titiano fratre in 30 
Kalendas Martias ipse : proximos menses Verginio destinat 
ut aliquod exercitui Germanico delinimentum. Jungitur 
Verginio Pompeius Vopiscus praetexto veteris amicitiae ; 
plerique Viennensium honori datum interpretabantur. Ce- 
teri consulatus ex destinatione Neronis aut Galbae mansere, 35 
Caelio ac Flavio Sabinis in Julias, Arrio Antonio et Mario 
Celso in Septembres ; quorum honori ne Vitellius quidem 
victor intercessit. Sed Otho pontificatus auguratusque 

6* 



66 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

honoratis jam senibus cumulum dignitatis addidit, aut re- 
cens ab exsilio reversos nobiles adolescentulos avitis ac 
paternis sacerdotiis in solatium recoluit. Redditus Cadio 
Rufo, Pedio Blaeso, Sevino Pomptinio senatorius locus ; 
5 repetundarum criminibus sub Claudio ac Nerone ceciderant. 
Placuit ignoscentibus verso nomine, quod avaritia fuerat, 
videri majestatem, cujus turn odio etiam bonae leges peri- 
bant. 

LXXVIII. Eadem largitione civitatum quoque ac pro- 

10 vinciarum animos aggressus, Hispaliensibus et Emeritensi- 
bus familiarum adjectiones, Lingonibus universis civitatem 
Romanam, provinciae Baeticae Maurorum civitates dono 
dedit ; nova jura Cappadociae, nova Africae, ostenta magis 
quam mansura. Inter quae necessitate praesentium rerum 

15 et instantibus curis excusata, ne turn quidem immemor 
amorum, statuas Poppaeae per senatus consultum reposuit. 
Creditus est etiam de celebranda Neronis memoria agita- 
visse spe vulgum alliciendi : et fuere, qui imagines Neronis 
proponerent ; atque etiam Othoni quibusdam diebus popu- 

20 lus et miles, tanquam nobilitatem ac decus adstruerent, 
Neroni Othoni acclamavit. Ipse in suspenso tenuit vetandi 
metu vel agnoscendi pudore. 

LXXIX. Conversis ad civile bellum animis, externa sine 
cura habebantur. Eo audentius Rhoxolani, Sarmatica 

25 gens, priore hieme caesis duabus cohortibus, magna spe ad 
Moesiam irruperant, novem millia equitum, ex ferocia et 
successu praedae magis quam pugnae intenta. Igitur va- 
gos et incuriosos tertia legio, adjunctis auxiliis, repente in- 
vasit : apud Romanos omnia proelio apta ; Sarmatae dis- 

30 persi aut cupidine praedae graves onere sarcinarum, et 
lubrico itinerum adempta equorum pernicitate, velut vincti 
caedebantur. Namque mirum dictu, ut sit omnis Sarma- 
tarum virtus velut extra ipsos : nihil ad pedestrem pugnam 
tarn ignavum : ubi per turmas advenere, vix ulla acies 

35 obstiterit. Sed turn humido die et soluto gelu neque conti 
neque gladii, quos praelongos utraque manu regunt, usui, 
lapsantibus equis et cataphractarum pondere. Id principi- 
bus et nobilissimo cuique tegimen, ferreis laminis aut prae- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXXX, LXXXI. Q*J , 

duro corio consertum, ut adversus ictus impenetrabile, ita 
impetu hostium provolutis inhabile ad resurgendum : simul 
altitudine et mollitia nivis hauriebantur. Romanus miles 
facilis lorica et missili pilo aut lanceis assultans, ubi res 
posceret, levi gladio inermem Sarmatam (neque enim scuto 5 
defendi mos est) cominus fodiebat, donee pauci, qui proelio 
superfuerant, paludibus abderentur. Ibi saevitia hiemis 
et vi vulnerum absumpti. Postquam id Romae compertum, 
M. Aponius Moesiam obtinens triumphali statua, Fulvius 
Aurelius et Julianus Titius ac Numisius Lupus legati legio- 10 
num consularibus ornamentis donantur, laeto Othone et 
gloriam in se trahente, tanquam et ipse felix belle- et suis 
ducibus suisque exercitibus rempublicam auxisset. 

LXXX. Parvo interim initio, unde nihil timebatur, orta 
seditio prope urbi excidio fuit. Septimam decimam cobor- 15 
tern e colonia Ostiensi in urbem acciri Otho jusserat : ar- 
mandae ejus cura Yario Crispino tribuno e praetorianis 
data. Is quo magis vacuus quietis castris jussa exsequere- 
tur, vehicula cohortis incipiente nocte onerari, aperto arma- 
mentario, jubet. Tempus in suspicionem, causa in crimen, 20 
affectatio quietis in tumultum evaluit ; et visa inter temu- 
lentos arma cupidinem sui movere. Fremit miles, et tri- 
bunos centurionesque proditionis arguit, tanquam familiae 
senatorum ad perniciem Othonis armarentur, pars ignari et 
vino graves, pessimus quisque in occasionem praedarum, 25 
vulgus, ut mos est, cujuscumque mot us novi cupidum ; et 
obsequia meliorum nox abstulerat. Resistentem seditioni 
tribunum et severissimos centurionum obtruncant: rapta 
arma, nudati gladii, insidentes equis urbem ac palatium 
petunt. 30 

LXXXI. Erat Otboni celebre convivium primoribus fe- 
minis virisque : qui trepidi, fortuitusne militum furor an 
dolus imperatoris, manere ac deprehendi an fugere et dis- 
pergi periculosius foret, modo constantiam simulare, modo 
formidine detegi, simul Othonis vultum intueri : utque 35 
evenit inclinatis ad suspicionem mentibus, cum timeret 
Otho, timebatur. Sed haud secus discrimine senatus quam 
suo territus, et praefectos praetorii ad mitigandas militum 



68 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

iras statim miserat, et abire propere omnes e convivio 
jussit. Turn vero passim magistrates, projectis insignibus, 
vitata comitum et servorum frequentia, senes feminaeque, 
per tenebras diversa urbis itinera, ran domos, plurimi 
5 amicorum tecta, et, ut cuique humillimus cliens, incertas 
latebras petivere. 

LXXXII. Militum impetus ne foribus quidem palatii 
coercitus, quo minus convivium irrumperent, ostendi sibi 
Othonem expostulantes, vulnerato Julio Martiale tribuno 

10 et Vitellio Saturnino praefecto legionis, dum ruentibus ob- 
sistunt. Undique arma et minae, modo in centuriones tri- 
bunosque, modo in senatum universum, lymphatis caeco 
pavore animis et, quia neminem unum destinare irae pote- 
rant, licentiam in omnes poscentibus, donee Otho contra 

15 decus imperii toro insistens, precibus et lacrimis aegre 
cohibuit, redieruntque in castra inviti neque innocentes. 
Postera die, velut capta urbe, clausae domus, rarus per 
vias populus, maesta plebs ; dejecti in terram militum vul- 
tus, ac plus tristitiae quam poenitentiae. Manipulatim 

20 allocuti sunt Licinius Proculus et Plotius Firmus praefecti, 
ex suo quisque ingenio mitius aut horridius. Finis sermo- 
nis in eo, ut quina millia nummum singulis militibus nume- 
rarentur. Turn Otho ingredi castra ausus : atque ilium 
tribuni centurionesque circumsistunt, abjectis militiae insig- 

25 nibus otium et salutem flagitantes. Sensit invidiam miles, 
et compositus in obsequium auctores seditionis ad suppli- 
cium ultro postulabat. 

LXXXIII. Otho, quanquam turbidis rebus et diversis 
militum animis, cum optimus quisque remedium praesen- 

30 tis licentiae posceret, vulgus et plures seditionibus et ambi- 
tioso imperio laeti per turbas et raptus facilius ad civile 
bellum impellerentur, simul reputans non posse principa- 
tum scelere quaesitum subita modestia et prisca gravitate 
retineri, sed discrimine urbis et periculo senatus anxius, 

35 postremo ita disseruit. "Neque ut affectus vestros in 
amorem mei accenderem, commilitones, neque ut animum 
ad virtutem cohortarer (utraque enim egregie supersunt), 
sed veni postulaturus a vobis temperamentum vestrae for- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXXXIV. 69 

titudinis et erga me modum caritatis. Tumultus proximi 
initium non cupiditate vel odio, quae multos exercitus in 
discordiam egere, ac ne detrectatione quidem aut formidine 
periculorum : nimia pietas vestra aerius quam considerate 
exeitavit. Nam saepe honestas reram causas, ni judicium 5 
adhibeas, perniciosi exitus consequuntur. Imus ad bellum : 
num omnes nuntios palam audiri, omnia consilia cunctis 
praesentibus tractari ratio rerum aut occasionum velocitas 
patitur ? Tarn nescire quaedam milites quam scire oportet. 
Ita se ducum auctoritas, sic rigor disciplinae habet, ut 10 
multa etiam centuriones tribunosque tantum juberi expe- 
diat. Si, ubi jubeantur, quaerere singulis liceat, pereunte 
obsequio etiam imperium intercidit. An et illic nocte in- 
tempesta rapientur arma ? Unus alterve perditus ac temu- 
lentus (neque enim plures consternatione proxima insanisse 15 
crediderim) centurionis ac tribuni sanguine manus imbuet ? 
Imperatoris sui tentorium irrumpet ? 

LXXXIV. " Yos quidem istud pro me : sed in discursu 
ac tenebris et rerum omnium confusione patefieri occasio 
etiam adversus me potest. Si Yitellio et satellitibus ejus 20 
eligendi facultas detur, quern nobis animum, quas mentes 
imprecentur, quid aliud quam seditionem et discordiam 
optabunt? ne miles centurioni, ne centurio tribuno obse- 
quatur, hinc confusi pedites equitesque in exitium ruamus. 
Parendo potius, commilitones, quam imperia ducum scisci- 25 
tando res militares continentur; et fortissimus in ipso 
discrimine exercitus est, qui ante discrimen quietissimus. 
Vobis arma et animus sit : mihi consilium et virtutis ves- 
trae regimen relinquite. Paucorum culpa fuit, duorum 
poena erit. Ceteri abolete memoriam foedissimae noctis : 30 
nee illas adversus senatum voces ullus usquam exercitus 
audiat. Caput imperii et decora omnium provinciarum ad 
poenam vocare, non hercule illi, quos cum maxime Yitellius 
in nos ciet, Germani audeant. Ulline Italiae alumni et 
Romana vere juventus, ad sanguinem et caedem depopos- 35 
cerint ordinem, cujus splendore et gloria sordes et obscuri- 
tatem Yitellianarum partium praestringimus ? Nationes 
aliquas occupavit Yitellius, imaginem quandam exercitus 



^0 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. IT. 822. 

habet : senatus nobiscum est. Sic fit, ut bine respublica, 
inde bostes reipublicae constiterint. Quid ? vos pulcberri- 
mam banc urbem domibus et tectis et congestu lapidum 
stare creditis ? Muta ista et inanima intercidere ac reparari 
5 promiscua sunt : aeternitas rerum et pax gentium et mea 
cum vestra salus incolumitate senatus firmatur. Hunc 
auspicato a parente et conditore urbis nostrae institutum, 
et a regibus usque ad principes continuum et immortalem, 
sicut a majoribus accepimus, sic posteris tradamus. Nam, 

10 ut ex vobis senatores, ita ex senatoribus principes nascun- 
tur." 

LXXXY. Et oratio ad perstringendos mulcendosque 
militum animos, et severitatis modus (neque enim in plures 
quam in duos animadverti jusserat) grate accepta, composi- 

15 tique ad praesens, qui coerceri non poterant. Non tamen 
quies urbis redierat: strepitus telorum et facies belli, et 
militibus, ut nibil in commune turbantibus, ita sparsis per 
domos, occulto habitu, et maligna cura in omnes, quos 
nobilitas aut opes aut aliqua insignis claritudo rumoribus 

20 objecerat. Vitellianos quoque milites venisse in urbem ad 
studia partium noscenda, plerique credebant. Unde plena 
omnia suspicionum, et vix secreta domuum sine formidine. 
Sed plurimum trepidationis in publico, ut quemque nun- 
tium fama attulisset, animum vultumque conversis, ne 

25 diffidere dubiis ac parum gaudere prosperis viderentur. 
Coacto vero in curiam senatu, arduus rerum omnium modus, 
ne contumax silentium, ne suspecta libertas. Et privato 
Otboni nuper atque eadem dicenti nota adulatio. Igitur 
versare sententias, et hue atque illuc torquere, hostem et 

30 parricidam Vitellium vocantes, providentissimus quisque 
vulgaribus conviciis ; quidam vera probra jacere, in clamore 
tamen et ubi plurimae voces, aut tumultu verborum sibi 
ipsi obstrepentes. 

LXXXVI. Prodigia insuper terrebant, diversis auctori- 

35 bus vulgata. " In vestibulo capitolii omissas habenas bigae, 
cui Victoria institerat : erupisse cella Junonis majorem 
humana speciem : statuam divi Julii in insula Tiberini 
amnis sereno et immoto die ab Occidente in Orientem con- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. LXXXVII, LXXXVIII. ?1 

versam : prolocutum in Etruria bovem : insolitos animalium 
partus :" et plura alia, rudibus saeculis etiam in pace ob- 
servata, quae nunc tantum in metu audiuntur. Sed prae- 
cipuus et cum praesenti exitio etiam futuri pavor, subita 
inundatione Tiberis; qui immenso auctu, proruto ponte 5 
sublicio, ac strage obstantis molis refusus, non modo ja- 
centia et plana urbis loca, sed secura hujusmodi casuum 
implevit. Rapti e publico plerique, plures in tabernis et 
cubilibus intercepti. Fames in vulgus, inopia quaestus et 
penuria alimentorum. Corrupta stagnantibus aquis insula- 10 
rum fundamenta, dein remeante flumine dilapsa. Utque 
primum vacuus a periculo animus fuit, id ipsum, quod 
paranti expeditionem Othoni campus Martius et via Fla- 
minia iter belli esset obstructum a fortuitis vel naturalibus 
causis, in prodigium et omen imminentium cladium verte- 15 
batur. 

LXXXVII. Otho, lustrata urbe et expensis belli consiliis, 
quando Peninae Cottiaeque Alpes et ceteri Galliarum 
aditus Yitellianis exercitibus claudebantur, Narbonensem 
Galliam aggredi statuit, classe valida et partibus fida, quod 20 
reliquos caesorum ad pontem Mulvium et saevitia Galbae in 
custodiam habitos, in numeros legionis composuerat, facta 
et ceteris spe honoratioris in posterum militiae. Addidit 
classi urbanas cohortes et plerosque e praetorianis, vires et 
robur exercitus, atque ipsis ducibus consilium et custodes, 25 
Summa expeditionis Antonio Novello, Suedio Clementi 
primipilaribus, Aemilio Pacensi, cui ademptum a G-alba 
tribunatum reddiderat, permissa. Curam navium Oscus 
libertus retinebat, ad observandam honestiorum fidem comi- 
tatus. Peditum equitumque copiis Suetonius Paulinus, 30 
Marius Celsus, Annius Gallus, rectores destinati. Sed 
plurima fides Licinio Proculo praetorii praefecto : is urbanae 
militiae impiger, bellorum insolens, auctoritatem Paulini, 
vigorem Celsi, maturitatem Galli, ut cuique erat, criminan- 
do, quod facillimum factu est, pravus et callidus bonos et 35 
modestos anteibat. 

LXXXVIII. Sepositus per eos dies Cornelius Dolabella 
in coloniam Aquinatem neque arcta custodia neque obscura 



72 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

nullum ob crimen, sed vetusto nomine et propinquitate 
Galbae monstratus. Multos e magistratibus, magnam con- 
sularium partem Otho, non participes aut ministros bello, 
sed comitum specie secum expedire jubet; in quis et L. 
5 Vitellium, eodem quo ceteros cultu, nee ut Imperatoris 
fratrem, nee ut hostis. Igitur motae urbis curae : nullus 
ordo metu aut periculo vacuus ; primores senatus aetate 
invalidi et longa pace desides, segnis et oblita bellorum 
nobilitas, ignarus militiae eques, quanto magis occultare 

10 et abdere pavorem nitebantur, manifestius pavidi. Nee 
deerant e contra rio, qui ambit ione stolida conspicua arma, 
insignes equos, quidam luxuriosos apparatus conviviorum 
et irritamenta libidinum, ut instruments belli, mercarentur. 
Sapientibus quietis et reipublicae cura ; levissimus quisque 

15 et futuri improvidus, spe vana tumens ; multi afflicta fide in 
pace ac turbatis rebus alacres et per incerta tutissimi. 

LXXXIX. Sed vulgus et magnitudine nimia communium 
curarum expers populus sentire paulatim belli mala, con- 
versa in militum usum omni pecunia, intentis alimentorum 

20 pretiis ; quae motu Yindicis haud perinde plebem attrive- 
rant, secura turn urbe et provinciali bello, quod inter legi- 
ones Galliasque velut externum fuit. Nam ex quo divus 
Augustus res Caesarum composuit, procul et in unius solici- 
tudinem aut decus populus Romanus bellaverat. Sub 

25 Tiberio et Caio, tantum pacis ad versa reipublicae perti- 
nuere. Scriboniani contra Claudium incepta simul audita 
et coercita. Nero nuntiis magis et rumoribus quam armis 
depulsus. Turn legiones classesque et, quod raro alias, 
praetorianus urbanusque miles in aciem deducti; Oriens 

30 Occidensque et quicquid utrimque virium est a tergo ; si 
ducibus aliis bellatum foret, longo bello materia. Fuere, 
qui proficiscenti Othoni moras religionemque nondum con- 
ditorum ancilium afferrent. Aspernatus est omnem cunc- 
tationem ut Neroni quoque exitiosam ; et Caecina jam Alpes 

35 transgressus exstimulabat. 

XC. Pridie Idus Martias, commendata patribus repub- 
lica, reliquias Neronianarum sectionum, nondum in fiscum 
conversas, revocatis ab exsilio concessit. Justissimum do- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER I. CAP. XC. 73 

num et in speciem magnificum, sed festinata jam pridem 
exactione usu sterili. Mox vocata concione, majestatem 
urbis et consensum populi ac senatus pro se attollens, ad- 
versum Vitellianas partes modeste disseruit, inscitiam potius 
legionum quam audaciam increpans, nulla Vitellii mentione ; 5 
sive ipsius ea moderatio, seu scriptor orationis sibi metuens 
contumeliis in Vitellium abstinuit, quando ut in consiliis 
militiae Suetonio Paulino et Mario Celso, ita in rebus urba- 
nis Galerii Trachali ingenio Othonem uti credebatur: et 
erant, qui genus ipsum orandi noscerent, crebro fori usu 10 
celebre et ad implendas aures latum et sonans. Clamor 
vocesque vulgi, ex more adulandi, nimiae et falsae : quasi 
dictatorem Caesarem, aut imperatorem Augustum prose- 
querentur, ita studiis votisque certabant, nee metu aut 
amore, sed ex libidine servitii ; ut in familiis, privata cuique 15 
stimulatio et vile jam decus publicum. Profectus Otho 
quietem urbis eurasque imperii Salvio Titiano fratri permisit. 

1 



C CORNELII TACITI 

HISTORIARUM 

LIBER SECUNDUS. 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 

Cap. I. Titus ad Galbam missus, nuntio mortis ejus accepto, vertit 
iter. II. Paphiae Veneris templum adit. III. Hujus origo et 
deae cultus. IV. Ibi futura edoctus, aucto animo, ad patrem, qui 
bellum Judaicum profligaverat, redit V. Vespasiani Mucianique 
ingenium ac mores diversi. Hi duces, positis odiis. in medium con- 
sulunt. Inde VI, VII, civilis belli occasio, intumescentibus Orien- 
tis legionibus. VIII, IX. Falsi Neronis ludibrium, ab Asprenate 
compressum. X. In urbe parvae res magnis motibus actae. Vibius 
Crispus Annium Faustum, delatorem fratris sui, pervertit. 

XI. Laeta Othoni principia belli. XII. Miles ejus in Alpinos saevit, 
XIII, in Albium Intemelium iras vertit. Egregium maternae pie- 
tatis exemplum. XIV. Imminet provinciae Narbonensi Othoniana 
classis. Vitelliani caesi, XV, nee Othonianis incruenta victoria. 
XVI. Pacarium procuratorem, juvare Vitellium Corsorum viribus 
parantem, insulani necant. XVII. Vitellianorum res secundae in 
Italia. XVIII, XIX. Spurinna Placentiam munit contra Vitellia- 
nos: XX, earn Caecina dum oppugnat, XXI, amphitheatrum urbi 
proximum conflagrat XXII. Obsidione soluta, Cremonam Caecina 
petit, ubi XXIII. Othoniani prospere pugnant. Vincentium impe- 
tum reprimunt duces, inde suspecti fiunt suis. XXIV. Caecinae 
insidias in ipsum vertit Suetonius Paulinus, cujus XXV, cunctatione 
Vitelliani servantur. XXVI. Utrimque tumultuantur milites. 

XXVII. Valens in Italiam copias ducit. XXVIII, XXIX. Gravis in 
ejus exercitu orta Batavorum seditio Alpbeni Vari consilio compo- 
sita. XXX. Junctis armis, aemulatione suppressa, Caecina ac Va- 
lens Vitellium fovent, Othoni probra objectant. Eorum XXXL 
Othonisque et Vitellii comparatio. Otho consultat de ratione belli. 
XXXII. Suetonius Paulinus moram suadet. XXXIII. Titiani 
fratris et Proculi consilia praevalent. Otho cum valida manu 
Brixellum concedit. XXXIV. Vitelliani transitum Padi simulant; 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 75 

XXXV, XXXVI, quern prohibentes Othoniani caeduntur. XXXVII. 
Van us rumor, pavore belli fastidiove utriusque principis, pacis con- 
silia inter exercitus fuisse agitata. XXXVIII. Excursus de priori- 
bus P. R. civilibus bellis, XXXIX, XL. Titianus et Proculus ad 
quartum a Bedriaco castra imperite promovent. Ducibus dubiis, 
rem in discrimen mitti Otho jubet. XLI — XLIII. Bedriacensis 
pugna. XLIV. Othonianorum fuga et ad versus duces suos ira. 
XLV. Induciae. Victi cum victoribus, in lacrimas effusi, civilia 
bella detestantur. XLVI — XLIX. Accepto cladis nuntio, Otho, 
consilii certus, spretis amicorum militumque solatiis, seditionem 
compescit et in ferrum pectore incumbit. Funus maturatum. Ad 
rogum quidam militum se interficiunt. L. Othonis aetas, origo, 
fama. 

LI. Novata luctu ac dolore militum seditio. LII — LIV. Pars senatus 
Othonem secuta, extremum discrimen adit. LV. Romae trepida- 
tionis nihil, spectantur ludi ; audita Othonis morte, Vitellio plauditur. 
LVI. Gravis Italiae victor exercitus. LVII. Vitellius nuntium de 
victoria sua accipit, LVIII, simulque de transgressa in partes suas 
utraque Mauretania. LIX. Blaesi venules blanditias odiis pensat. 
LX. Othonianorum promptissimos centuriones interficit, duces ab- 
solvit. LXI. Maricci, inserere sese fortunae ausi, supplicium. 
LXII. Vitellii gula, leges. Spretum Augusti Caesarisque praeco- 
nium. Pulsi mathematici. Equites arena prohibiti. LXIII, LXIV. 
Dolabellae caedes. Triariae licentia ; Galeriae et Sextiliae modes- 
tia. LXV. Cluvius absolvitur ; Trebellius removetur. LXVI. Victae 
legiones ferociunt. Quartadecimanorum et Batavorum discordia. 
LXVII. Praetorianorum honesta missio. Sparguutur legiones. 
LXVIII. Luxuriam principis aemulatur exercitus. Ticini tumul- 
tus alio tumultu sedatus. Verginii periculum. LXIX. Cohortes 
Batavorum in Germaniam remissae: amputati legionum auxiliorum- 
que numeri : miles luxu corruptus. LXX. Vitellius Bedriacenses 
campos laetus lustrat, propinquae sortis ignarus. LXXI. Neronis 
libidines aemulatur. Consulatus partitur. LXXII. Falsus Scribo- 
nianus cruci suffixus. 

LXXIII. Vitellius, ob adactum in verba ejus Orientem superbus et ve- 
cors, Vespasiani ad nomen excitatur. LXXIV. Hie bellum armaque 
parat. LXXV — LXXVIII. Nutantem firmant Mucianus, legati 
alii, vatum responsa et Carmeli dei sacerdos. LXXIX, LXXX. 
Imperatorem salutant Aegyptus et Syria. LXXXI. Accedunt ad 
partes ejus reges Sohemus, Antiochus, Agrippa ; regina Berenice 
LXXXII. Belli consilia. Titus instat Judaeae. Vespasianus claus- 
tra Aegypti obtinet. LXXXI II, LXXXI V. Mucianus, cum exercitu 
praemissus, nervum belli conquirit. LXXXV, LXXXVI. Moesicae 
Pannonicaeque legiones, in partes transgressae, Dalmaticum militem 
trahunt. Belli faces Antonius Primus, Cornelius Fuscus. 



76 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

LXXXVII. Vitellius, contemptior in dies, gravi urbem agmine petit, 
eamque, LXXXVIII, LXXXIX, patrata multa militum paganorum- 
que caede, ut captam, ingressus, XC, magnificam de semetipso 
orationem promit, XCI, humani divinique juris expers, nonnulla 
tamen popularia usurpat. XCII. Munia imperii Caecina ac Valens 
obeunt. Vitellio auctoritas nihil. XCIII. Militis in urbe otium, 
iibidines, morbi, mortes, XCIV, insolentia, paucitas. Vitellii inopia, 
prodigentia. Duces Galliarum postulati ad supplicium. Militiae 
ordo confusus. XCV. Natalis Vitellii ingenti paratu celebratus, 
Inferiae Neroni factae. Urbis miseria. XCVI. Defections Flavi- 
anae rumores male coercet Vitellius. XCVII, XCVIII. Excita 
tamen auxilia, sed necessitas dissimulata. XCIX. Irrumpentibus 
hostibus, Caecina ad bellum praemittitur ; sed is C, CI, cum Lucilio 
Basso classibusque Ravennate Misenensique proditiouem componit, 
et ad partes Vespasiani transit. Gesta haec sunt paucis mensibus 
anno eodem, consulibus iisdem et aliis suffectis, de quibus videsis 
1,77. 

Struebat jam fortuna in diversa parte terrarum initia 
causasque imperio, quod varia sorte laetum reipublicae aut 
atrox, ipsis principibus prosperum aut exitio fuit. Titus 
Yespasianus e Judaea, incolumi adhuc Galba, missus a 
5 patre, causam profectionis officium erga principem et matu- 
ram petendis honoribus juventam ferebat. Sed vulgus 
fingendi avidum disperserat accitum in adoptionem. Mate- 
ria sermonibus senium et orbitas principis et intemperantia 
civitatis, donee unus eligatur, multos destinandi. Augebat 

10 famam ipsius Titi ingenium, quantaecunque fortunae capax, 
decor oris cum quadam maj estate, prosperae Yespasiani 
res, praesaga responsa, et inclinatis ad credendum animis, 
loco ominum etiam fortuita. Ubi Corinthi, Achaiae urbe, 
certos nuntios accepit de interitu Galbae, et aderant qui 

15 arma Yitellii bellumque affirmarent, anxius animo, paucis 
amicorum adhibitis, cuncta utrimque perlustrat. Si per- 
geret in urbem, nullam officii gratiam, in alterius honorem 
suscepti: ac se Yitellio sive Othoni obsidem fore. Sin 
rediret, offensam haud dubiam victoris ; sed incerta adhuc 

20 victoria, et concedente in partes patre, filium excusatum. 
Sin Yespasianus rempublicam susciperet, obliviscendum 
offensarum de bello agitantibus. 

II. His ac talibus inter spem metumque jactatum spes 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. Ill, IV. 77 

vicit. Fuere, qui accensum desiderio Berenices reginae 
vertisse iter crederent. Neque abhorrebat a Berenice ju- 
venilis animus ; sed gerendis rebus nullum ex eo impedi- 
mentum : laetam voluptatibus adolescentiam egit, suo quam 
patris imperio moderation Igitur oram Achaiae et Asiae 5 
ac laeva maris praevectus, Rhodum et Cyprum insulas, 
inde Syriam audentioribus spatiis petebat. Atque ilium 
cupido incessit adeundi visendique templum Paphiae Ve- 
neris, inclitum per indigenas advenasque. Haud fuerit 
longum initia religionis, templi ritum, formam deae (neque 10 
enim alibi sic habetur) paucis disserere. 

III. Conditorem templi regem Aerian vetus memoria, 
quidam ipsius deae nomen id perhibent. Fama recen- 
tior tradit a Cinyra sacratum templum, deamque ipsam 
conceptam mari hue appulsam. Sed scientiam artemque 15 
haruspicum accitam, et Cilicem Tamiram intulisse ; atque 
it a pactum, ut familiae utriusque posteri caerimoniis praesi- 
derent. Mox, ne honore nullo regium genus peregrinam 
stirpem antecelleret, ipsa quam intulerant scientia hospites 
cessere : tantum Cinyrades sacerdos consulitur. Hostiae, 20 
ut quisque vovit, sed mares deliguntur. Certissima fides 
haedorum fibris. Sanguinem arae offundere vetitum : pre- 
cibus et igne puro altaria adolentur, nee ullis imbribus, 
quanquam in aperto, madescunt. Simulacrum deae non 
emgie humana, continuus orbis latiore initio tenuem in 25 
ambitum metae modo exsurgens ; et ratio in obscuro. 

IY. Titus spectata opulentia donisque regum, quaeque 
alia laetum antiquitatibus Graecorum genus incertae vetus- 
tati affingit, de navigatione primum consuluit. Postquam 
pandi viam et mare prosperum accepit, de se per ambages 30 
interrogat, caesis compluribus hostiis. Sostratus (sacer- 
dotis id nomen erat) ubi laeta et congruentia exta magnis- 
que consultis annuere deam videt, pauca in praesens et 
solita respondens, petito secreto, futura aperit. Titus, 
aucto animo ad patrem pervectus, suspensis provinciarum et 35 
exercituum mentibus, ingens rerum fiducia accessit. Profli- 
gaverat bellum Judaicum Vespasianus, oppugnatione Hiero- 
solymorum reliqua, duro magis et arduo opere ob ingenium 

7* 



78 C CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

montis et pervicaciam superstitionis, quam quo satis virium 
obsessis ad tolerandas necessitates superesset. Tres, ut 
supra memoravimus, ipsi Vespasiano legiones erant, exer- 
citae bello : quatuor Mucianus obtinebat in pace ; sed 
5 aemulatio et proximi exercitus gloria repulerat segnitiam, 
quantumque illis roboris discrimina et labor, tantum his 
vigoris addiderat integra quies et inexperti belli labor: 
auxilia utrique cohortium alarumque, et classes regesque, 
ac nomen dispari fama celebre. 

10 V. Yespasianus acer militiae anteire agmen, locum cas- 
tris capere, noctu diuque consilio ac, si res posceret, manu 
hostibus obniti, cibo fortuito, veste habituque vix a grega- 
rio milite discrepans ; prorsus, si avaritia abesset, antiquis 
ducibtfcs par. Mucianum e contrario magnificentia et opes 

15 et cuncta privatum modum supergressa extollebant: aptior 
sermone, dispositu provisuque civilium rerum peritus ; egre- 
gium principatus temperamentum, si, demptis utriusque 
vitiis, solae virtutes miscerentur. Ceterum hie Syriae, ille 
Judaeae praepositus, vicinis provinciarum administrationi- 

20 bus, invidia discordes, exitu demum Neronis positis odiis in 
medium consuluere, primum per amicos ; dein praecipua 
concordiae fides Titus prava certamina communi utilitate 
aboleverat, natura atque arte compositus alliciendis etiam 
Muciani moribus. Tribuni centurionesque et vulgus mili- 

25 turn industria, licentia, per virtutes, per voluptates, ut cui- 
que ingenium, asciscebantur. 

VI. Antequam Titus adventaret, sacramentum Othonis 
acceperat uterque exercitus, praecipitibus, ut assolet, nun- 
tiis, et tarda mole civilis belli, quod longa concordia quietus 

30 Oriens tunc primum parabat. Namque olim validissima 
inter se civium arma in Italia Galliave viribus Occidentis 
coepta; et Pompeio, Cassio, Bruto, Antonio, quos omnes 
trans mare secutum est civile bellum, haud prosperi exitus 
fuerant, auditique saepius in Syria Judaeaque Caesares 

35 quam inspecti. Nulla seditio legionum : tantum adversus 
Parthos minae, vario eventu. Et proximo civili bello, tur- 
batis aliis, inconcussa ibi pax : dein fides erga Galbam. 
Mox, ut Othonem ac Vitellium scelestis armis res Romanas 



A. C, 69.] LIBER II. CAP. VII, VIII. Y9 

raptum ire vulgatum est, ne penes ceteros imperii praemia, 
penes ipsos tantum servitii necessitas esset, fremere miles et 
vires suas circumspicere. Septem legiones statim et cum 
ingentibus ^auxiliis Syria Judaeaque : inde continua Aegyp- 
tus duaeque legiones, Line Cappadocia Pontusque et quic- 5 
quid castrorum Armeniis praetenditur. Asia et ceterae 
provinciae nee virorum inopes et pecuniae opulentae : quan- 
tum insularum mari cingitur, et parando interim bello 
secundum tutumque ipsum mare. 

VII. Non fallebat duces impetus militum : sed bellanti- 10 
bus aliis placuit exspectari belli exitum : victores victosque 
nunquam solida fide coalescere : nee referre, Vitellium an 
Othonem superstitem fortuna faceret. Rebus secundis 
etiam egregios duces insolescere : discordiam bis, ignaviam, 
luxuriem; et suismet vitiis alterum bello, alteram victoria 15 
periturum. Igitur arma in occasionem distulere, Vespasi- 
anus Mucianusque nuper, ceteri olim mixtis consiliis ; opti- 
mus quisque amore reipublicae : multos dulcedo praedarum 
stimulabat, alios ambiguae domi res. Ita boni malique 
causis diversis, studio pari, bellum omnes cupiebant. 20 

VIIL Sub idem tempus Achaia atque Asia falso exter- 
ritae, velut Nero adventaret, vario super exitu ejus rumore 
eoque pluribus vivere eum fingentibus credentibusque. 
Ceterorum casus conatusque in contextu operis dicemus: 
tunc servus e Ponto sive, ut alii tradidere, libertinus ex 25 
Italia, citharae et cantus peritus (unde illi super similitudi- 
nem oris propior ad fallendum fides) adjunctis desertoribus 
quos inopia vagos ingentibus promissis corruperat, mare 
ingreditur : ac vi tempestatum Cythnum insulam detrusus 
et militum quosdam ex Oriente commeantium ascivit vel 30 
abnuentes interfici jussit, et spoliatis negotiatoribus, man- 
cipiorum valentissimum quemque armavit ; centurionemque 
Sisennam, dextras, concordiae insignia, Syriaci exercitus 
nomine ad praetorianos ferentem, variis artibus aggressus 
est, donee Sisenna, clam relicta insula, trepidus et vim 35 
rnetuens aufugeret : inde late terror, multis ad celebritatem 
nominis erectis, rerum novarum cupidine et odio praesen- 
tium. 



80 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

IX. Gliscentem in dies famam fors discussit. Galatiam 
ac Pamphyliam provincias Calpurnio Asprenati regendas 
Galba permiserat: datae e classe Misenensi duae triremes 
ad prosequendum, cum quibus Cytlinum insulam tenuit. 

5 Nee defuere, qui trierarchos nomine Neronis accirent : is in 
maestitiam compositus et fidem suorum quondam militum 
invocans, ut eum in Syria aut Aegypto sisterent, orabat. 
Trierarchi nutantes, seu dolo, alloquendos sibi milites et 
paratis omnium animis reversuros firmaverunt. Sed Aspre- 
10 nati cuncta ex fide nuntiata; cujus cohortatione expugnata 
navis et interfectus quisquis ille erat. Corpus, insigne 
oculis comaque et torvitate vultus, in Asiam atque inde 
Romam pervectum est. 

X. In civitate discordi et ob crebras principum muta- 
15 tiones inter libertatem ac licentiam incerta, parvae quoque 

res magnis motibus agebantur. Vibius Crispus pscunia, 
potentia, ingenio inter claros magis quam inter bonos, An- 
nium Faustum equestris ordinis qui temporibus Neronis 
delationes factitaverat, ad cognitionem senatus vocabat. 

20 Nam recens Galbae principatu censuerant patres, ut accu- 
satorum causae noscerentur. Id senatusconsultum varie 
jactatum et, prout potens vel inops reus inciderat, infirmum 
aut validum retinebatur. Ad hoc terroris et propria vi 
Crispus incubuerat, delatorem fratris sui pervertere ; traxe- 

25 ratque magnam senatus partem, ut indefensum et inauditum 
dedi ad exitium postularent. Contra apud alios nihil aeque 
reo proderat quam nimia potentia accusatoris : dari tempus, 
edi crjmina, quam vis in visum ac nocentem more tamen 
audiendum censebant. Et valuere primo, dilataque in 

30 paucos dies cognitio : mox damnatus est Faustus, nequa- 
quam eo assensu civitatis quern pessimis moribus meruerat : 
quippe ipsum Crispum easdem accusationes cum praemio 
exercuisse meminerant, nee poena criminis sed ultor displi- 
cebat. 

35 XI. Laeta interim Othoni principia belli, motis ad impe- 
rium ejus e Dalmatia Pannoniaque exercitibus. Fuere 
quatuor legiones, e quibus bina millia praemissa; ipsae 
modicis intervallis sequebantur, septima a Galba conscripta, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XII. 81 

veteranae undecima ac tertiadecima et praecipui fama quar- 
tadecumani, rebellione Britanniae compressa. Addiderat 
gloriam Nero, eligendo ut potissimos ; unde longa illis erga 
Neronem fides et erecta in Othonem studia. Sed quo plus 
virium ac roboris, e fiducia tarditas inerat : agmen legionum 5 
alae cohortesque praeveniebant, et ex ipsa urbe haud sper- 
nanda manus, quinque praetoriae cohortes et equitum 
vexilla cum legione prima, ac deforme insuper auxilium, 
duo millia gladiatorum, sed per civilia arma etiam severis 
ducibus usurpatum. His copiis rector additus Annius Gal- 10 
lus, cum Vestricio Spurinna ad occupandas Padi ripas 
praemissus, quoniam prima consiliorum frustra ceciderant 
transgresso jam Alpes Caecina, quern sisti intra Gallias 
posse speraverat. Ipsum Othonem comitabantur specula- 
torum lecta corpora cum ceteris praetoriis cohortibus, vete- 15 
rani e praetorio, classicorum ingens numerus. Nee illi 
segne aut corruptum luxu iter ; sed lorica ferrea usus est, 
et ante signa ped ester, horrid us, incomptus famaeque dis- 
similis. 

XII. Blandiebatur coeptis fortuna, possessa per mare et 20 
naves majore Italiae parte penitus usque ad initium mari- 
timarum Alpium : quibus tentandis aggrediendaeque pro- 
vinciae Narbonensi Suedium Clementem, Antonium JNTovel- 
lum, Aemilium Pacensem duces dederat. Sed Pacensis 
per licentiam militum vinctus : Antonio Novello nulla auc- 25 
toritas : Suedius Clemens ambitioso imperio regebat, ut 
adversus modestiam disciplinae corruptus, ita praeliorum 
avidus. Non Italia adiri nee loca sedesque patriae vide- 
bantur ; tanquam externa littora et urbes hostiura urere, 
vastare, rapere, eo atrocius quod nihil usquam pro visum ad- 30 
versum metus. Pleni agri, apertae domus : occursantes 
domini juxta conjuges et liberos securitate pacis et belli 
malo circumveniebantur. Maritimas turn Alpes tenebat 
procurator Marius Maturus. Is concita gente (nee deest 
juventus) arcere provinciae finibus Othonianos intendit. 35 
Sed primo impetu caesi disjectique montani, ut quibus 
temere collectis, non castra, non ducem noscitantibus, neque 
in victoria decus esset neque in fuga flagitium. 



82 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

XIII. Irritatus eo praelio Othonis miles vertit iras in 
municipium Albium Intemelium : quippe in acie nihil prae- 
dae ; inopes agrestes et vilia arma : nee capi poterant, per- 
nix genus et gnari locorum : sed calamitatibus insontium 
5 expleta avaritia. Auxit invidiam praeclaro exemplo femi- 
na Ligus, quae filio abdito, cum simul pecuniam occultari 
milites credi dissent eoque per cruciatus interrogarent ubi 
filium occuleret, uterum ostendens latere respondit. Nee 
ullis deinde terroribus aut morte constantiam vocis egregiae 

10 mutavit. 

XIY. Imminere provinciae Narbonensi, in verba Vitellii 
adactae, classem Othonis trepidi nuntii Fabio Valenti attu- 
lere. Aderant legati coloniarum, auxilium orantes. Duas 
Tungrorum cohortes, quatuor equitum turmas, universam 

15 Treverorum alam cum Julio Classico praefecto misit; e 
quibus pars in colonia Forojuliensi retenta, ne omnibus 
copiis in terrestre iter versis .vacuo mari classis acceleraret. 
Duodecim equitum turmae et lecti e cohortibus adversus 
hostem iere : quibus adjuncta Ligurum cohors, vetus loci 

20 auxilium, et quingenti Alpini, qui nondum sub signis. Nee 
mora praelio, sed acie ita instructa, ut pars classicorum, 
mixtis paganis, in colles mari propinquos exsurgeret, quan- 
tum inter colles ac littus aequi loci praetorianus miles ex- 
pleret, in ipso mari ut annexa classis et pugnae parata con- 

25 versa et minaci fronte praetenderetur. Vitelliani, quibus 
minor peditum vis, in equite robur, Alpinos proximis jugis, 
cohortes densis ordinibus post equitem locant. Treverorum 
turmae obtulere se hosti incaute, cum exciperet contra 
veteranus miles, simul a latere saxis urgeret apta ad jacien- 

30 dum etiam paganorum manus, qui sparsi inter milites, 
strenui ignavique, in victoria idem audebant. Additus per- 
culsis terror invecta in terga pugnantium classe. Ita undi- 
que clausi ; deletaeque omnes copiae forent, ni victorem 
exercitum attinuisset obscurum noctis, obtentui fugientibus. 

35 XV. Nee Vitelliani, quanquam victi, quievere : accitis 
auxiliis securum hostem ac successu rerum socordius ao-en- 
tern invadunt : caesi vigiles, perrupta castra, trepidatum 
apud naves, donee sidente paulatim metu, occupato juxta 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XVI, XVII. 83 

colle defensi, mox irrupere. Atrox ibi caedes, et Tungra- 
rum cohortiurn praefecti, sustentata diu acie, telis obruuntur. 
Ne Othonianis quidem incruenta victoria fuit, quorum im- 
provide secutos conversi equites circumvenerunt. Ac velut 
pactis induciis, ne hinc classis, inde eques subitam formidi- 5 
nem inferrent, Yitelliani retro Antipolim Narbonensis Gal- 
liae municipium, Othoniani Albigaunum interioris Liguriae 
revertere. 

XYL Corsicam ac Sardiniam ceterasque proximi maris 
insulas, fama victricis classis in partibus Othonis tenuit. 10 
Sed Corsicam prope afflixit Decumi Pacarii procuratoris 
temeritas tanta mole belli nihil in summam profutura, ipsi 
exitiosa. ISTamque Othonis odio juvare Vitellium Corsorum 
viribus statuit, inani auxilio etiam si provenisset. Yocatis 
principibus insulae consilium aperit, et contradicere ausos, 15 
Claudium Pyrrhicum trierarchum Liburnicarum ibi navi- 
um, Quintium Certum equitem Romanum interfici jubet : 
quorum morte exterriti qui aderant, simul ignara et alieni 
metus socia imperitorum turba, in verba Vitellii juravere. 
Sed ubi delectum agere Pacarius et inconditos homines 20 
fatigare militiae muneribus occepit, laborem insolitum pero- 
si infirmitatem suam reputabant : insulam esse quam inco- 
lerent, et longe Germaniam viresque legionum : direptos 
vastatosque classe etiam quos cohortes alaeque protegerent. 
Et aversi repente animi ; nee tamen aperta vi, aptum tern- 25 
pus insidiis legere. Digressis, qui Pacarium frequentabant, 
nudus et auxilii inops balineis interficitur ; trucidati et co- 
mites. Capita, ut hostium, ipsi interfectores ad Othonem 
tulere ; neque eos aut Otho praemio affecit aut puniit Vi- 
tellius, in multa colluvie rerum majoribus flagitiis permix- 30 
tos. 

XYII. Aperuerat jam Italiam bellumque transmiserat, 
ut supra memoravimus, ala Siliana, nullo apud quenquam 
Othonis favore, nee quia Yitellium mallent ; sed longa pax 
ad omne servitium fregerat, faciles occupantibus et meliori- 35 
bus incuriosos. Florentissimum Italiae latus, quantum inter 
Padum Alpesque camporum et urbium, armis Vitellii (nam- 
que et praemissae a Caecina cohortes advenerant) tenebatur. 



84 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Capta Pannoniorum cohors apud Cremonam. Intercepti 
centum equites ac mille classici inter Placentiain Ticinum- 
que : quo successu Vitellianus miles non jam flumine aut 
ripis arcebatur. Irritabat quin etiam Batavos Transrbena- 
5 nosque Padus ipse : quern repente contra Placentiam trans- 
gressi, raptis quibusdam exploratoribus, ita ceteros terruere, 
ut adesse omnem Caecinae exercitum trepidi ac falsi nuntia- 
rent. 

XVIII. Certum erat Spurinnae (is enim Placentiam ob- 
10 tinebat) nee dum venisse Caecinam, et, si propinquaret, co- 

ercere intra munimenta militem nee tres praetorias cohortes 
et mille vexillarios cum paucis equitibus veterano exercitui 
objicere. Sed indomitus miles et belli ignarus, correptis 
signis vexillisque, ruere et retinenti duci tela intentare, spre- 
15. tis centurionibus tribunisque ; quin prodi Othonem, et acci- 
tum Caecinam clamitabant. Fit temeritatis alienae comes 
Spurinna, primo coactus, mox velle simulans, quo plus auc- 
toritatis inesset consiliis, si seditio mitesceret. 

XIX. Postquam in conspectu Padus et nox appetebat, 
20 vallari castra placuit. Is labor, urbano militi insolitus, con- 

tundit animos. Turn vetustissimus quisque castigare credu- 
litatem suam, metum ac discrimen ostendere, si cum ex- 
ercitu Caecina, patentibus campis, tarn paucas cohortes cir- 
cumfudisset : jamque totis castris modes ti sermones et, 

25 inserentibus se centurionibus tribunisque, laudari providentia 
ducis, quod coloniam virium et opum validam robur ac se- 
dem bello legisset. Ipse postremo Spurinna, non tarn cul- 
pam exprobrans quam ratione ostendens, relictis exploratori- 
bus, ceteros Placentiam reduxit, minus turbidos et imperia 

30 accipientes. Solidati muri, propugnacula addita, auctae 
turres, provisa parataque non arma modo, sed obsequium et 
parendi amor ; quod solum illis partibus defuit, cum virtutis 
haud poeniteret. 

XX. At Caecina, velut relicta post Alpes saevitia ac li- 
35 centia, modesto agmine per Italiam incessit. Ornatum ip- 

sius municipia et coloniae in superbiam trahebant, quod 
versicolori sagulo, braccas barbarum tegmen indutus, toga- 
tos alloqueretur. Uxorem autem ejus Saloninam, quan- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XXI, XXII. 85 

quam in nullius injuriam insigni equo ostroque veheretur, 
tanquam laesi gravabantur, insita mortalibus natura recen- 
tem aliorum felicitatem acribus oculis introspicere, modum- 
que fortunae a nullis magis exigere quam quos in aequo 
viderunt. Caecina Padum transgressus, tentata Othoniano- 5 
rum fide per colloquium et promissa, iisdem petitus, post- 
quam pax et concordia speciosis et irritis nominibus j aetata 
sunt, consilia curasque in oppugnationem Placentiae magno 
terrore vertit, gnarus, ut initia belli provenissent, famam 
in cetera fore. 10 

XXI, Sed primus dies impetu magis quam veterani exer- 
citus artibus transactus : aperti incautique muros subiere, 
cibo vinoque praegraves. In eo certamine pulcherrimum 
ampbitheatri opus, situm extra muros, conflagravit, sive ab 
oppugnatoribus incensum, dum faces et glandes et missilem 15 
ignem in obsessos jaculantur, sive ab obsessis, dum retorta 
ingerunt. Municipale vulgus, pronum ad suspiciones, fraude 
illata ignis aliment a credidit a quibusdam e vicinis coloniis, 
invidia et aemulatione, quod nulla in Italia moles tarn capax 
foret : quocumque casu accidit, dum atrociora metuebantur, 20 
in levi babitum ; reddita securitate, tanquam nihil gravius 
pati potuissent, maerebant. Ceterum multo suorum cruore 
pulsus Caecina, et nox parandis operibus assumpta. Vitel- 
liani pluteos cratesque et vineas suffodiendis muris prote- 
gendisque oppugnatoribus ; Otboniani sudes et immensas 25 
lapidum ac plumbi aerisque moles perfringendis obruendis- 
que hostibus expediunt. Utrimque pudor, utrimque gloria 

et diversae exhortationes, hinc legionum et Germanici exer- 
citus robur, inde urbanae militiae et praetoriarum cohortium 
decus attoilentium ; illi ut segnem et desidem et circo ac 30 
theatris corruptum militem, hi peregrinum et externum in- 
crepabant : simul Othonem ac Vitellium celebrantes culpan- 
tesve ubeiioribus inter se probris quam laudibus stimula- 
bantur. 

XXII. Vix dum orto die plena propugnatoribus moenia, 35 
fulgentes armis virisque campi ; densum legionum agmen, 
sparsa auxiliorum manus, altiora murorum sagittis aut saxis 
incessere, neglecta aut aevo fluxa cominus aggredi. Inge- 

8 



86 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

runt desuper Othoniani pila librato magis et certo ictu ad- 
versus temere subeuntes cohortes Germanorum cantu truci 
et more patrio nudis corporibus super humeros scuta qua- 
tientium. Legionarius pluteis et cratibus tectus submit 
5 muros, instruit aggerem, molitur portas. Contra praetori- 
ani dispositos ad id ipsum molares ingenti pondere ac fra- 
gore provolvunt : pars subeuntium obruti ; pars confixi et 
exsangues aut laceri, cum augeret stragem trepidatio eoque 
acrius e moenibus vulnerarentur, rediere infracta partium 

10 fama. Et Caecina pudore coeptae temere oppugnationis, 
ne irrisus ac vanus iisdem castris assideret, trajecto rursus 
Pado Cremonam petere intendit. Tradidere sese abeunti 
Turulius Cerialis cum compluribus classicis et Julius Bri- 
ganticus cum paucis equitum, hie praefectus alae, in Bata- 

15 vis genitus, ille primipilaris et Caecinae haud alienus, quod 
ordines in Germania duxerat. 

XXIII. Spurinna, comperto itinere hostium, defensam 
Placentiam, quaeque acta et quid Caecina pararet, Annium 
Galium per literas docet. Gallus legionem primam in aux- 

20 ilium Placentiae ducebat, diffisus paucitate cohortium, ne 
longius obsidium et vim Germanici exercitus parum tolera- 
rent : ubi pulsum Caecinam pergere Cremonam accepit, 
aegre coercitam legionem et pugnandi ardore usque ad se- 
ditionem progressam Bedriaci sistit. Inter Veronam Cre- 

25 monamque situs est vicus, duabus jam Bomanis cladibus 
notus infaustusque. Iisdem diebus a Marcio Macro haud 
procul Cremona prospere pugnatum : namque promptus ani- 
mi Marcius transvectos navibus gladiatores in adversam 
Padi ripam repente effudit. Turbata ibi Vitellianorum aux- 

30 ilia et, ceteris Cremonam fugientibus, caesi qui restiterant. 
Sed repressus vincentium impetus, ne no vis subsidiis firmati 
hostes fortunam proelii mutarent. Suspectum id Othoni- 
anis fuit omnia ducum facta prave aestimantibus. Certa- 
tim, ut quisque animo ignavus, procax ore, Annium Galium 

35 et Suetonium Paulinum et Marium Celsum (nam eos quo- 
que Otho praefecerat) variis criminibus incesserant. Acer- 
rima seditionum ac discordiae incitamenta interfectores Gal- 
bae : scelere et metu vecordes miscere cuncta, modo palam 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XXIV, XXV. 87 

turbidis vocibus, modo occultis ad Othonem Uteris, qui hu- 
millimo cuique credulus, bonos metuens trepidabat, rebus 
prosperis incertus et inter adversa melior. Igitur Titianum 
fratrem accitum bello praeposuit. Interea Paulini et Celsi 
ductu res egregiae gestae. 5 

XXIY. Angebant Caecinam nequicquam omnia coepta et 
senescens exercitus sui fama : pulsus Placentia, caesis nuper 
auxiliis, etiam per concursum exploratorum, crebra magis 
quam digna memoratu proelia, inferior, propinquante Fabio 
Valente, ne omne belli decus illuc concederet, reciperare 10 
gloriam avidius quam consultius properabat. Ad duodeci- 
mum a Cremona (locus Cast or um vocatur) ferocissimos 
auxiliarium imminentibus viae lucis occultos componit : 
equites procedere longius jussi, et irritato proelio sponte 
refugi festinationem sequentium elicere, donee insidiae coori- 15 
rentur. Proditum id Othonianis ducibus ; et curam pedi- 
tum Paulinus, equitum Celsus sumpsere. Tertiaedecimae 
legionis vexillum, quatuor auxiliorum cohortes et quingenti 
equites in sinistro locantur ; aggerem viae tres praetoriae 
cohortes altis ordinibus obtinuere ; dextra fronte prima legio 20 
incessit cum duabus auxiliaribus cohortibus et quingentis 
equitibus. Super hos e praetorio auxiliisque mille equites, 
cumulus prosperis aut subsidium laborantibus, ducebantur. 

XXV. Antequam miscerentur acies, terga vertentibus 
Vitellianis, Celsus doli prudens repressit suos. Vitelliani 25 
temere exsurgentes, cedente sensim Celso, longius secuti 
ultro in insidias praecipitantur : nam a lateribus cohortes, 
legionum adversa frons, et subito discursu terga cinxerant 
equites. Signum pugnae non statim a Suetonio Paulino 
pediti datum : cunctator natura, et cui cauta potius consilia 30 
cum ratione quam prospera ex casu placerent, compleri fos- 
sas, aperiri campum, pandi aciem jubebat ; satis cito incipi 
victoriam ratus, ubi provisum foret ne vincerentur. Ea cunc- 
tatione spatium Vitellianis datum in vineas nexu traducum 
impeditas refugiendi. Et modica silva adhaerebat ; unde 35 
rursus ausi promptissimos praetorianorum equitum interfe- 
cere : vulneratur rex Epiphanes, impigre pro Othone pug- 
nam ciens. 



88 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [A. U. 822. 

XXVI. Turn Othonianus pedes erupit : protrita hostium 
acie, versi in fugam etiam qui subveniebant ; nam Caecina 
non simul cohortes sed singulas acciverat : quae res in 
proelio trepidationem auxit, cum dispersos nee usquam 

5 validos pavor fugientium abriperet. Orta et in castris 
seditio, quod non universi ducerentur. Yinctus praefectus 
castrorum Julius Gratus, tanquam fratri apud Othonem 
militanti proditionem ageret, cum fratrem ejus, Julium 
Frontonem tribunum, Othoniani sub eodem crimine vinxis- 

10 sent. Ceterum ea ubique formido fuit apud fugientes, 
occursantes, in acie, pro vallo, ut deleri cum universo exer- 
citu Caecinam potuisse, ni Suetonius Paulinus receptui 
cecinisset, utrisque in partibus percrebruerit. Timuisse se 
Paulinus ferebat tantum insuper laboris atque itineris, ne 

15 Vitellianus miles recens e castris fessos aggrederetur et 
perculsis nullum retro subsidium foret : apud paucos ea 
ducis ratio probata, in vulgus adverso rumore fuit. 

XXVII. Haud perinde id damnum Vitellianos in metum 
compulit quam ad modestiam composuit ; nee solum apud 

20 Caecinam, qui culpam in militem conferebat seditioni magis 
quam proelio paratum : Fabii quoque Valentis copiae (jam 
enim Ticinum venerat) posito hostium contemptu, et recu- 
perandi decoris cupidine, reverentius et aequalius duci 
parebant. Gravis alioquin seditio exarserat, quam altiore 

25 initio (neque enim rerum a Caecina gestarum ordinem inter- 
rumpi oportuerat) repetam. Cohortes Batavorum, quas 
bello Neronis a quartadecima legione digressas, cum Britan- 
niam peterent, audito Vitellii motu in civitate Lingonum 
Fabio Valenti adjunctas retulimus, superbe agebant, ut 

30 cujusque legionis tentoria accessissent, coercitos a se quarta- 
decimanos, ablatam Neroni Italiam, atque omnem belli 
fortunam in ipsorum manu sitam jactantes. Contumelio- 
sum id militibus, acerbum duci ; corrupta jurgiis aut rixis 
disciplina : ad postremum Valens e petulantia etiam per- 

35 fidiam suspectabat. 

XXVIII. Igitur nuntio allato pulsam Treverorum alam 
Tungrosque a classe Othonis et Narbonensem Galliam cir- 
cumiri, simul cura socios tuendi et militari astu cohortes 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XXIX, XXX. 89 

turbidas ac, si una forent, praevalidas dispergendi, partem 
Batavorum ire in subsidium jubet. Quod ubi auditum 
vulgatumque, maerere socii, fremere legiones : orbari se 
fortissimorum virorum auxilio : veteres illos et tot bellorum 
victores, postquam in conspectu sit hostis, velut ex acie ab- 5 
duci : si provincia urbe et salute imperii potior sit, omnes 
illuc sequerentur ; sin victoriae sanitas, sustentaculum, colu- 
men in Italia verteretur, non abrumpendos, ut corpori, 
validissimos artus. 

XXIX. Haec ferociter jactando, postquam immissis licto- 10 
ribus Valens coercere seditionem coeptabat, ipsum inva- 
dunt, saxa jaciunt, fugientem sequuntur, spolia Galliarum 

et Yiennensium aurum et pretia laborum suorum occultare 
clamitantes, direptis sarcinis, tabernacula ducis ipsamque 
bumum pilis et lanceis rimabantur : nam Valens servili veste 15 
apud decurionem equitum tegebatur. Turn Alfenus Varus 
praefectus castrorum, deflagrante paulatim seditione, addit 
consilium, vetitis obire vigilias centurionibus, omisso tubae 
sono quo miles ad belli munia cietur. Igitur torpere cuncti, 
circumspectare inter se attoniti et id ipsum, quod nemo 20 
regeret, paventes : silentio, patientia, postremo precibus 
ac lacrimis veniam quaerebant. Ut vero deformis et flens 
et praeter spem incolumis Valens processit, gaudium, mise- 
ratio, favor : versi in laetitiam, ut est vulgus utroque 
immodicum, laudantes gratantesque circumdatum aquilis 25 
signisque in tribunal ferunt. Ille utili moderatione non 
supplicium cujusquam poposcit : ac ne dissimulans suspec- 
tior foret, paucos incusavit, gnarus civilibus bellis plus 
militibus quam ducibus lie ere. 

XXX. Munientibus castra apud Ticinum de ad versa Cae- 30 
cinae pugna allatum, et prope renovata seditio, tanquam 
fraude et cunctationibus Valentis proelio defuissent. Nolle 
requiem, non exspectare ducem, anteire signa, urgere sig- 
niferos : rapido agmine Caecinae junguntur. Improspera 
Valentis fama apud exercitum Caecinae erat : expositos se 35 
tanto pauciores integris hostium viribus querebantur, simul 

in suam excusationem et adventantium robur per adulatio- 
nem attollentes, ne ut victi et ignavi despectarentur. Et 

8* 



90 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

quanquam plus virium, prope duplicates legionum auxilio- 
rumque numerus erat Valenti, studia tamen militum in 
Caecinam inclinabant, super benignitatem animi, qua promp- 
tior habebatur, etiam vigore aetatis, proceritate corporis et 
5 quodam inani favore. Hinc aemulatio ducibus. Caecina 
ut foedum ac maculosum, ille ut tumidum ac vanum irride- 
bant. Sed condito odio eandem utilitatem fovere, crebris 
epistolis sine respectu veniae probra Othoni objectantes, 
cum duces partium Othonis quamvis uberrima conviciorum 
10 in Yitellium materia abstinerent. 

XXXI. Sane ante utriusque exitum, quo egregiam Otho 
famam, Vitellius flagitiosissimam meruere, minus Vitellii 
ignavae voluptates quam Othonis flagrantissimae libidines 
timebantur. Addiderat huic terrorem atque odium caedes 

15 Galbae ; contra illi initium belli nemo imputabat. Vitellius 
ventre et gula sibi inhonestus ; Otho luxu, saevitia, auda- 
cia reipublicae exitiosior ducebatur. Conjunctis Caecinae 
ac Yalentis copiis, nulla ultra penes Vitellianos mora, quin 
totis viribus certarent. Otho consultavit, trahi bellum an 

20 fortunam experiri placeret. Tunc Suetonius Paulinus dig- 
num fama sua ratus, qua nemo ilia tempestate militaris rei 
callidior habebatur, de toto genere belli censere, festinatio- 
nem hostibus, moram ipsis utilem disseruit. 

XXXII. " Exercitum Vitellii universum advenisse, nee 
25 multum virium a tergo, quoniam Galliae tumeant, et dese- 

rere Rheni ripam, irrupturis tarn infestis nationibus, non 
conducat : Britannicum militem hoste et mari distineri : 
Hispanias armis non ita redundare : provinciam Narbonen- 
sem incursu classis et adverso proelio contremuisse : clau- 

30 sam Alpibus, et nullo maris subsidio Transpadanam Italiam, 
atque ipso transitu exercitus vastam : non frumentum us- 
quam exercitui, nee exercitum sine copiis retineri posse. 
Jam Germanos, quod genus militum apud hostes atrocissi- 
mum sit, tracto in aestatem bello, fluxis corporibus, muta- 

35 tionem soli coelique haud toleraturos. Multa bella,impetu 
valida,per taedia et moras evanuisse. Contra ipsis omnia 
opulenta et fida : Pannoniam, Moesiam, Dalmatiam, Orien- 
tem cum integris exercitibus, Italiam et caput rerum ur- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XXXIII, XXXIV. 91 

bem, senatumque et populum nunquam obscura nomina, 
etsi aliquando obumbrentur ; publicas privatasque opes et 
immensam pecuniam, inter civiles discordias ferro validio- 
rem ; corpora militum aut Italiae sueta aut aestibus : ob- 
jacere flumen Padum, tutas viris murisque urbes ; e quibus 5 
nullam hosti cessuram, Placentiae defensione exploratum. 
Proinde duceret bellum : paucis diebus quartamdecimam 
legionem, magna ipsam fama, cum Moesiacis copiis affore : 
turn rursus deliberaturum et, si proelium placuisset, auctis 
viribus certaturos." 10 

XXXIII. Accedebat sententiae Paulini Marius Celsus : 
idem placere Annio Gallo, paucos ante dies lapsu equi afflic- 
to, missi qui consilium ejus sciscitarentur retulerant. Otho 
pronus ad decertandum ; frater ejus Titianus et praefectus 
praetorii Proculus, imperitia properantes, fortunam et deos 15 
et numen Otbonis adesse consiliis, affore conatibus testa- 
bantur : neu quis obviam ire sententiae auderet, in adula- 
tionem concesserant. Postquam pugnari placitum, interesse 
pugnae Imperatorem an seponi melius foret dubitavere. 
Paulino et Celso jam non adversantibus, ne principem ob- 20 
jectare periculis viderentur, iidem illi deterioris consilii 
auctores perpulere ut Brixellum concederet ac dubiis proe- 
liorum exemptus summae rerum et imperii se ipsum reser- 
varet. Is primus dies Otbonianas partes afflixit : namque 

et cum ipso praetoriarum cohortium et speculatorum equi- 25 
tumque valida manus discessit, et remanentium fractus 
animus, quando suspecti duces, et Otho, cui uni apud mili- 
tem fides, dum et ipse non nisi militibus credit, imperia 
ducum in incerto reliquerat. 

XXXIV. Nihil eorum Vitellianos fallebat, crebris, ut in 30 
civili bello, transfugiis ; et exploratores, cura diversa scisci- 
tandi, sua non occultabant. Quieti intentique Caecina ac 
Valens, quando hostis imprudentia rueret, quod loco sapien- 
tiae est, alienam stultitiam opperiebantur, inchoato ponte 
transitum Padi simulantes ad versus oppositam gladiatorum 35 
manum, ac ne ipsorum miles segne otium tereret. Naves 
pari inter se spatio validis utrimque trabibus connexae, ad- 
versum in flumen dirigebantur jactis super ancoris, quae 



92 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

firmitatem pontis continerent. Sed ancorarum funes non 
extenti fluitabant, ut augescente flumine inoffensus ordo na- 
vium attolleretur. Claudebat pontem imposita turris et in 
extremam navem educta, unde tormentis ac machinis hostes 
5 propulsarentur. Othoniani in ripa turrim struxerant, saxa- 
que et faces jaculabantur. 

XXXV. Et erat insula amne medio, in quam gladiatores 
navibus molientes, Germani nando praelabebantur. Ac 
forte plures transgressos, completis Liburnicis, per promp- 

10 tissimos gladiatorum Macer aggreditur. Sed neque ea con- 
stantia gladiatoribus ad proelia, quae militibus, nee perinde 
nutantes e navibus quam stabili gradu e ripa vulnera diri- 
gebant. Et cum variis trepidantium inclinationibus mixti 
remiges propugnatoresque turbarentur, desilire in vada ultro 

15 Germani, retentare puppes, scandere foros aut cominus mer- 
gere : quae curie ta in oculis utriusque exercitus quanto 
laetiora Vitellianis, tanto acrius Othoniani causam aucto- 
remque cladis detestabantur. 

XXXVI. Et proelium quidem, abreptis quae supererant 
20 navibus, fuga diremptum : Macer ad exitium poscebatur ; 

jamque vulneratum eminus lancea strictis gladiis invaserant, 
cum intercursu tribunorum centurionumque protegitur. Nee 
multo post Vestricius Spurinna jussu Othonis, relicto Pla- 
centiae modico praesidio, cum cohortibus subvenit. Dein 
25 Flavium "Sabinum consulem designatum Otho rectorem 
copiis misit, quibus Macer praefuerat, laeto milite ad muta- 
tionem ducum et ducibus ob crebras seditiones tarn infestam 
militiam aspernantibus. 

XXXVII. Invenio apud quosdam auctores, pavore belli 
30 seu fastidio utriusque principis, quorum tlagitia ac dedecus 

apertiore in dies fama noscebantur, dubitasse exercitus, num 
posito certamine vel ipsi in medium consultarent, vel senatui 
permitterent legere imperatorem ; atque eo duces Othonia- 
nos spatium ac moras suasisse, praecipua spe Paulini, quod 
35 vetustissimus consularium et militia clarus gloriam nomen- 
que Britannicis expeditionibus meruisset. Ego ut conces- 
serim apud paucos tacito voto quietem pro discordia, bonum 
et innocentem principem pro pessimis ac flagitiosissimis ex- 






A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XXXVIII, XXXIX. 93 

petitum, ita neque Paulinum, qua prudentia fuit, sperasse 
corruptissimo saeculo tantam vulgi moderationem reor, ut, 
qui pacem belli amore turbaverant, bellum pacis caritate 
deponerent, neque aut exercitus linguis moribusque dissonos 
in hunc consensum potuisse coalescere, aut legatos ac duces, 5 
magna ex parte luxus, egestatis, scelerum sibi conscios, nisi 
pollutum obstrictumque meritis suis principem passuros. 

XXXVIII. Vetus ac jam pridem insita mortalibus po- 
tentiae cupido cum imperii magnitudine adolevit erupitque. 
Nam rebus modicis aequalitas facile habebatur : sed ubi 10 
subacto orbe et aemulis urbibus regibusve excisis securas 
opes concupiscere vacuum fuit, prima inter patres plebem- 
que certamina exarsere : modo turbulenti tribuni, modo con- 
sules praevalidi, et in urbe ac foro tentamenta civilium bel- 
lorum. Mox e plebe infima C. Marius et nobilium saevissi- 15 
mus L. Sulla victam armis libertatem in dominationem ver- 
terunt. Post quos Cn. Pompeius occultior, non melior. Et 
nunquam postea, nisi de principatu quaesitum. Non dis- 
cessere ab armis in Pharsalia ac Philippis civium legiones ; 
nedum Othonis ac Vitellii exercitus sponte posituri bellum 20 
fuerint: eadem illos deum ira, eadem hominum rabies, 
eaedem scelerum causae in discordiam egere. Quod singu- 
lis velut ictibus transacta sunt bella, ignavia principum 
factum est. Sed me veterum novorumque morum reputatio 
longius tulit : nunc ad rerum ordinem venio. 25 

XXXIX. Profecto Brixellum Othone, honor imperii pe- 
nes Titianum fratrem, vis ac potestas penes Proculum prae- 
fectum. Celsus et Paulinus, cum prudentia eorum nemo 
uteretur, inani nomine ducum alienae culpae praetendeban- 
tur. Tribuni centurionesque ambigui, quod spretis meliori- 30 
bus deterrimi valebant : miles alacer ; qui tamen jussa 
ducum interpretari quam exseqiri mallet. Promoveri ad 
quartum a Bedriaco castra placuit, adeo imperite, ut quan- 
quam verno tempore anni et tot circum amnibus, penuria 
aquae fatigarentur. Ibi de proelio dubitatum, Othone per 35 
literas flagitante ut maturarent, militibus ut imperator pug- 
nae adesset poscentibus ; plerique copias trans Padum agen- 
tes acciri postulabant. Nee perinde dijudicari potest, quid 



94 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

optimum factu fuerit, quam pessimum fuisse, quod factum 
est. 

XL. Non ut ad pugnam sed ad bellandum profecti, con- 
fluentes Padi et Adduae fluminum, sedecim inde millium 
5 spatio distantes, petebant. Celso et Paulino abnuentibus 
militem itinere fessum, sarcinis gravem objicere hosti, non 
admissuro quo minus expeditus et vix quatuor millia pas- 
suum progressus aut incompositos in agmine aut dispersos 
et vallum molientes aggrederetur. Titianus et Proculus, 

10 ubi consiliis vincerentur, ad jus imperii transibant. Aderat 
sane citus equo jNumida cum atrocibus mandatis, quibus 
Otbo increpita ducum segnitia rem in discrimen mitti jube- 
bat, aeger mora et spei impatiens. 

XLI. Eodem die ad Caecinam operi pontis intentum duo 

15 praetoriarum cohortium tribuni, colloquium ejus postulan- 
tes, venerunt. Audire conditiones ac reddere parabat, cum 
praecipites exploratores adesse hostem nuntiavere. Inter- 
rupts tribunorum sermo ; eoque incertum fuit, insidias an 
proditionem vel aliquod honestum consilium coeptaverint. 

20 Caecina dimissis tribunis revectus in castra, datum jussu 
Fabii Yalentis pugnae signum et militem in armis invenit. 
Dum legiones de ordine agminis sortiuntur, equites proru- 
pere : et, mirum dictu, a paucioribus Othonianis quo minus 
in vallum impingerentur, Italicae legionis virtute deterriti 

25 sunt : ea strictis mucronibus redire pulsos et pugnam resu- 
mere coegit. Disposita Vitellianarum legionum acies sine 
trepidatione ; etenim, quanquam vicino hoste, aspectus ar- 
morum densis arbustis prohibebatur : apud Othonianos pav- 
idi duces, miles ducibus infensus, mixta vehicula et lixae 

30 et praeruptis utrimque fossis via quieto quoque agmini 
angusta. Circumsistere alii signa sua, quaerere alii : incer- 
tus undique clamor accurrentium, vocitantium ; ut cuique 
audacia vel formido, in primam postremamve aciem prorum- 
pebant aut relabebantur. 

35 XLII. Attonitas subito terrore mentes falsum gaudium 
in languorem vertit, repertis qui descivisse a Vitellio exerci- 
tum ementirentur. Is rumor, ab exploratoribus Vitellii 
dispersus, an in ipsa Othonis parte seu dolo seu forte sur- 



A. O. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XLIII, XLIV. 95 

rexerit, parum compertum. Omisso pugnae ardore Otho- 
niani ultro salutavere, et hostili murmure excepti, plerisque 
suorum ignaris quae causa salutandi, metum proditionis 
fecere. Turn incubuit hostium acies integris ordinibus, 
robore et numero praestantior : Othoniani, quanquam dis- 5 
persi, pauciores, fessi, proelium tamen acriter sumpsere : et 
per locos arboribus ac vineis impeditos non una pugnae 
facies: cominus eminus catervis et cuneis concurrebant : 
in aggere viae collato gradu corporibus et umbonibus niti, 
omisso pilorum jactu gladiis et securibus galeas loricasque 10 
perrumpere : noscentes inter se, ceteris conspicui, in even- 
turn totius belli certabant. 

XLIII. Forte inter Padum viamque, patenti campo, duae 
legiones congressae sunt ; pro Vitellio unaetvicesima, cui 
cognomen Rapaci, vetere gloria insignis ; e parte Othonis, 15 
prima Adjutrix, non ante in aciem deducta, sed ferox et 
novi decoris avida. Primani stratis unaetvicesimanorum 
principiis aquilam abstulere : quo dolore accensa legio et 
impulit rursus primanos, interfecto Orfidio Benigno legato, 
et plurima signa vexillaque ex hostibus rapuit. A parte 20 
alia propulsa quintanorum impetu tertiadecima legio ; cir- 
cumventi plurium accursu quartadecimani. Et ducibus 
Othonis jam pridem profugis Caecina ac Yalens subsidiis 
suos firmabant. Accessit recens auxilium Varus Alfenus 
cum Batavis, fusa gladiatorum manu, quam navibus trans- 25 
vectam oppositae cohortes in ipso flumine trucidaverant : 
ita victores latus bostium invecti. 

XLIV. Et media acie perrupta fugere passim Othoniani, 
Bedriacum petentes. Immensum id spatium : obstructae 
strage corporum viae ; quo plus caedis fuit : neque enim 30 
civDibus bellis capti in praedam vertuntur. Suetonius 
Paulinus et Licinius Proculus diversis itineribus castra vita- 
vere. Vedium Aquilam tertiaedecimae legionis legatum 
irae militum inconsultus pavor obtulit : multo adhuc die 
vallum ingressus clamore seditiosorum et fugacium circum- 35 
strepitur : non probris, non manibus abstinent : desertorem 
proditoremque increpant, nullo proprio crimine ejus, sed 
more vulgi suum quisque flagitium aliis objectantes. Titia- 






96 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

num et Celsum nox juvit, dispositis jam excubiis compressis- 
que militibus, quos Annius Gallus consilio, precibus, auc- 
toritate flexerat, ne super clad em adversae pugnae suismet 
ipsi caedibus saevirent : sive finis bello venisset seu resu- 
5 mere arma mallent, unicum victis in consensu levamentum. 
Ceteris fractus animus. Praetorianus miles non virtute se 
sed proditione vie turn fremebat. Ne Vitellianis quidem 
incruentam fuisse victoriam, pulso equite, rapta legionis 
aquila: superesse cum ipso Othone militum quod trans 

10 Padum fuerit ; venire Moesicas legiones ; magnam exerci- 
tus partem Bedriaci remansisse : hos certe nondum victos, 
et si ita ferret, honestius in acie perituros. His cogitationi- 
bus truces aut pavidi, extrema desperatione ad iram saepius 
quam in formidinem stimulabantur. 

15 XLV. At Vitellianus exercitus ad quintum a Bedriaco 
lapidem consedit, non ausis ducibus eadem die oppugnatio- 
nem castrorum ; simul voluntaria deditio sperabatur. Sed 
expeditis et tantum ad proelium egressis munimentum fuere 
arma et victoria. Postera die, haud ambigua Othoniani 

20 exercitus voluntate et, qui ferociores fuerant, ad poeniten- 
tiam inclinantibus, missa legatio : nee apud duces Vitellia- 
nos dubitatum, quo minus pacem concederent. Legati 
paulisper retenti : ea res haesitationem attulit ignaris adhuc 
an impetrassent. Mox remissa legatione patuit vallum. 

25 Turn victi victoresque in lacrimas effusi, sortem civilium 
armorum misera laetitia detestantes. Iisdem tentoriis, alii 
fratrum, alii propinquorum vulnera fovebant. Spes et 
praemia in ambiguo, certa funera et luctus. Nee quisquam 
adeo mali expers, ut non aliquam mortem maereret. Re- 

30 quisitum Orfidii legati corpus honore solito crematur ; 
paucos necessarii ipsorum sepelivere ; ceterum vulgus super 
humum relictum. 

XLVI. Opperiebatur Otho nuntium pugnae nequaquam 
trepidus et consilii certus : maesta primum fama, dein pro- 

35 fugi e proelio perditas res patefaciunt. Non exspectavit 
militum ardor vocem imperatoris : bonum haberet animum 
jubebant : superesse adhuc novas vires, et ipsos extrema 
passuros ausurosque: neque erat adulatio. Ire in aciem, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XL VII, XLVIII. 97 

excitare partium fortunam furore quodam et instinctu fla- 
grabant : qui procul astiterant, tendere manus, et proximi 
prensare genua, promptissimo Plotio Firrno. Is praetorii 
praefectus identidem orabat, ne fidissimum exercitum, ne 
optime meritos milites desereret: majore animo tolerari ad- 5 
versa, quam relinqui ; fortes et strenuos etiam contra fortu- 
nam insistere spei, timidos et ignavos ad desperationem 
formidine properare. Quas inter voces ut flexerat vultum 
aut induraverat Otho, clamor et gemitus. Nee praetoriani 
tantum, proprius Othonis miles, sed praemissi e Moesia 10 
eandem obstinationem adventantis exercitus, legiones Aqui- 
leiam ingressas nuntiabant : ut nemo dubitet potuisse reno- 
vari bellum atrox, lugubre, incertum victis et victoribus. 

XLYII. Ipse aversus a consiliis belli, " Hunc," inquit, 
"animum, hanc virtutem vestram ultra periculis objicere, 15 
nimis grande vitae meae pretium puto. Quanto plus spei 
ostenditis, si vivere placeret, tanto pulchrior mors erit. 
Experti invicem sumus, ego ac Fortuna : nee tempus com- 
putaveritis : difficilius est temperare felicitati, qua te non 
putes diu usurum. Civile bellum a Vitellio coepit, et ut 20 
de principatu certaremus armis, initium illic fuit : ne plus- 
quam semel certemus, penes me exemplum erit : hinc 
Othonem posteritas aestimet. Fruetur Vitellius fratre, 
conjuge, liberis : mihi non ultione neque solatiis opus est. 
Alii diutius imperium tenuerint : nemo tarn fortiter relique- 25 
rit. An ego tantum Romanae pubis, tot egregios exercitus, 
sterni rursus et reipublicae eripi patiar ? Eat hie mecum 
animus, tanquam perituri pro me fueritis ; sed este super- 
stites: nee diu moremur, ego incolumitatem vestram, vos 
constantiam meam. Plura de extremis loqui pars ignaviae 30 
est : praecipuum destinationis meae documentum habete, 
quod de nemine queror : nam incusare deos vel homines 
ejus est, qui vivere velit. ,, 

XLVIII. Talia locutus, ut cuique aetas aut dignitas, 
comiter appellatos, irent propere neu remanendo iram vie- 35 
toris asperarent, juvenes auctoritate, senes precibus move- 
bat, placidus ore, intrepidus verbis, intempestivas suonim 
lacrimas coercens. Dari naves ac vehicula abeuntibus ju- 





98 C. CORN. TACIT! HISTOR, [a. U. 822. 

bet ; libellos epistolasque studio erga se aut in Vitellium 
contumeliis insignes abolet ; pecunias distribuit, parce, nee 
ut periturus. Mox Salvium Cocceianum fratris filium, 
prima juventa, trepidum et maerentem ultro solatus est, 
5 laudando pietatem ejus, castigando formidinem : " an Vitel- 
lium tarn immitis animi fore ut pro incolumi tota domo ne 
hanc quidem sibi gratiam redderet? mereri se festinato 
exitu clementiam victoris. Non enim ultima desperatione, 
sed poscente proelium exercitu, remisisse reipublicae novis- 

10 simum casum. Satis sibi nominis, satis posteris suis nobili- 
tatis quaesitum : post Julios, Claudios, Servios, se primum 
in familiam novam imperium intulisse : proinde erecto ani- 
mo capesseret vitam, neu patruum sibi Othonem fuisse aut 
obli vise ere tur unquam aut nimium meminisset." 

15 XLIX. Post quae, dimotis omnibus, paulum lequievit: 
atque ilium, supremas jam curas animo volutantem, repens 
tumultus avertit, nuntiata consternatione ac licentia mili- 
tum : namque abeuntibus exitium minitabantur, atroeissima 
in Verginium vi, quern clausa domo obsidebant. Increpitis 

20 seditionis auctoribus regressus vacavit abeuntium alloquiis, 
donee omnes inviolati digrederentur. Vesperascente die 
sitim haustu gelidae aquae sedavit : turn allatis pugionibus, 
cum utrumque pertentasset, alterum capiti subdidit : et ex- 
plorato jam profectos amicos, noctem quietam, utque affir- 

25 matur, non insomnem egit. Luce prima in ferrum pectore 
incubuit. Ad gemitum morientis ingressi liberti servique et 
Plotius Firmus praetorii praefectus unum vulnus invenere. 
Funus maturatum : ambitiosis id precibus petierat, ne am- 
putaretur caput ludibrio futurum. Tulere corpus praeto- 

30 riae cohortes, cum laudibus et lacrimis, vulnus manusque 
ejus exosculantes. Quidam militum juxta rogum interfe- 
cere se, non noxa neque ob metum, sed aemulatione decoris 
et caritate principis : ac postea promiscue Bedriaci, Placen- 
tiae aliisque in castris, celebratum id genus mortis. Othoni 

35 sepulcrum exstructum est modicum et mansurum. 

L. Hunc vitae finem habuit septimo et tricesimo aetatis 
anno. Origo illi e municipio Ferentio. Pater consularis, 
avus praetorius, maternum genus impar nee tamen indeco- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER. II. CAP. LI, LII, LIII. 99 

rum. Pueritia ac juventa, qualem monstravimus ; duobus 
faeinoribus, altero flagitiosissimo, altero egregio, tantundem 
apud posteros meruit bonae famae, quantum malae. Ut 
conquirere fabulosa et fictis oblectare legentium animos pro- 
cul gravitate coepti operis crediderim, ita vulgaris traditis- 5 
que demere fidem non ausim. Die quo Bedriaci certabatur, 
avem invisitata specie apud Regium Lepidum celebri luco 
consedisse incolae memorant, nee deinde coetu hominum 
aut circumvolitantium alitum territam pulsamve, donee 
Otho se ipse interficeret ; turn ablatam ex oculis : et tern- 10 
pora reputantibus, initium finemque miraculi cum Othonis 
exitu competisse. 

LI. In funere ejus, novata luctu ac dolore militum sedi- 
tio, nee erat, qui coerceret. Ad Verginium versi, modo 
ut reciperet imperium, nunc ut legatione apud Caecinam ac 15 
Valentem fungeretur, minitantes orabant. Yerginius, per 
aversam domus partem furtim degressus, irrumpentes frus- 
tratus est. Earum, quae Brixelli egerant, cohortium preces 
Rubrius Gallus tulit. Et venia statim impetrata, conce- 
dentibus ad victorem per Flavium Sabinum iis copiis, qui- 20 
bus praefuerat. 

LII. Posito ubique bello, magna pars senatus extremum 
discrimen adiit, profecta cum Othone ab urbe, dein Mutinae 
relicta. Iliuc adverso de proelio allatum : sed milites ut 
falsum rumor em aspernantes, quod infensum Oth oni sena- 25 
turn arbitrabantur, custodire sermones, vultum habitumque 
trahere in deterius ; conviciis postremo ac probris causam 
et initium caedis quaerebant, cum alius insuper metus sena- 
toribus instaret, ne, praevalidis jam Vitellii partibus, cunc- 
tanter excepisse victoriam crederentur : ita trepidi et utrim- 30 
que anxii coeunt, nemo privatim expedito consilio, inter 
multos societate culpae tutior. Onerabat paventium curas 
ordo Mutinensis anna et pecuniam offerendo, appellabatque 
Patres Conscriptos intempestivo honore. 

LIII. Notabile jurgium inde fuit, quo Licinius Caecina 35 
Marcellum Eprium ut ambigua disserentem invasit. Nee 
ceteri sententias aperiebant : sed invisum memoria delatio- 
num expositumque ad invidiam Marcelli nomen irritaverat 



100 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Caecinam, ut novus adhuc et in senatum nuper ascitus 
magnis inimicitiis claresceret. Moderatione meliorum di- 
rempti. Et rediere omnes Bononiam, rursus consiliaturi : 
simul medio temporis plures nuntii sperabantur. Bononiae, 
5 divisis per itinera qui recentissimum quemque percunctaren- 
tur, interrogatus Othonis libertus causam digressus, habere 
se suprema ejus mandata respondit : ipsum viventem qui- 
dem relictum, sed sola posteritatis cura, et abruptis vitae 
blandimentis. Hinc admiratio et plura interrogandi pudor ; 

10 atque omnium animi in Vitellium inclinavere. 

LIV. Intererat consiliis f rater ejus L. Vitellius, seque 
jam adulantibus offerebat, cum repente Coenus libertus 
Neronis atroci mendacio universos perculit, affirmans super- 
ventu quartaedecimae legionis, junctis a Brixello viribus, 

15 caesos victores, versam partium fortunam. Causa fingendi 
fuit, ut diplomata Othonis, quae negligebantur, laetiore 
nuntio revalescerent. Et Coenus quidem rapide in urbem 
vectus, paucos post dies jussu Vitellii poenas luit. Sena- 
torum periculum auctum, credentibus Othonianis militibus 

20 vera esse, quae afferebantur. Intendebat formidinem, quod 
publici consilii facie discessum Mutina, desertaeque partes 
forent. Nee ultra in commune congressi, sibi quisque con- 
suluere, donee missae a Fabio Valente epistolae demerent 
metum. Et mors Othonis, quo laudabilior, eo velocius 

25 audita. 

LV. At Romae nihil trepidationis : Cereales ]udi ex 
more spectabantur. Ut cessisse Othonem, et a Flavio 
Sabino praefecto urbis, quod erat in urbe militum, Sacra- 
mento Vitellii adactum certi auctores in theatrum attule- 

30 runt, Vitellio plausere : populus cum lauru ac floribus 
Galbae imagines circum templa tulit, congestis in modum 
tumuli coronis, juxta lacum Curtii, quern locum Galba 
moriens sanguine infecerat. In senatu cuncta longis alio- 
rum principatibus composita statim decernuntur. Additae 

35 erga Germanicum exercitum laudes gratesque, et missa 
legatio, quae gaudio fungeretur. Recitatae Fabii Valentis 
epistolae, ad consules scriptae haud immoderate : gratior 
Caecinae modestia fuit, quod non scripsisset. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LVI, LVII, LVIII. 101 

LVI. Ceterum Italia gravius atque atrocius quam bello 
afflictabatur : dispersi per municipia et colonias Vitelliani 
spoliare, rapere, vi et stupris polluere ; in omne fas nefas- 
que avidi aut venales non sacro, non profano abstinebant. 
Et fuere, qui inimicos suos specie militum interficerent. 5 
Ipsique milites regionum gnari refertos agros, dites dominos 
in praedam aut, si repugnatum foret, ad excidium destina- 
bant, obnoxiis ducibus et prohibere non ausis : minus ava- 
ritiae in Caecina, plus ambitionis : Yalens ob lucra et 
quaestus infamis, eoque alienae etiam culpae dissimulator. 10 
Jam pridem attritis Italiae rebus, tantum peditum equitum- 
que, vis damnaque et injuriae aegre tolerabantur. 

LVII. Interim Vitellius victoriae suae nescius, ut ad in- 
tegrum bellum, reliquas Germanici exercitus vires trahebat. 
Pauci veterum militum in hibernis relicti, festinatis per 15 
Gallias delectibus, ut remanentium legionum nomina sup- 
plerentur. Cura ripae Hordeonio Flacco permissa ; ipse e 
Britannico delectu octo millia sibi adjunxit : et paucorum 
dierum iter progressus, prosperas apud Bedriacum res ac 
morte Othonis concidisse bellum accepit. Vocata concione, 20 
virtutem militum laudibus cumulat. Postulante exercitu 
ut liber turn suum Asiaticum equestri dignitate donaret, in- 
honestam adulationem compescuit. Dein mobilitate inge- 
nii, quod palam abnuerat, inter secreta convivii largitur ; 
honoravitque Asiaticum annulis, foedum mancipium et 25 
malis artibus ambitiosum. 

LVIII. Iisdem diebus accessisse partibus utramque 
Mauretaniam, interfecto procuratore Albino, nuntii venere. 
Lucceius Albinus a Nerone Mauretaniae Caesariensi prae- 
positus, addita per Galbam Tingitanae provinciae adminis- 30 
tratione, haud spernendis viribus agebat. Decern novem 
cohortes, quinque alae, ingens Maurorum numerus aderat, 
per latrocinia et raptus apta bello manus. Caeso Galba in 
Othonem pronus, nee Africa contentus, Hispaniae angusto 
freto diremptae imminebat. Inde Cluvio Rufo metus : et 35 
decimam legionem propinquare littori, ut transmissurus, 
jussit : praemissi Centuriones, qui Maurorum animos Vitel- 
lio conciliarent : neque arduum fuit, magna per provincias 

9* 



102 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Germanici exercitus fama. Spargebatur insuper, spreto 
Procuratoris vocabulo, Albinum insigne regis et Jubae 
nomen usurpare. 

LIX. Ita mutatis animis, Asinius Pollio alae praefectus, 
5 e fidissimis Albino, et Festus ac Scipio cohortium praefecti 
opprimuntur. Ipse Albinus, dum e Tingitana provincia 
Caesariensem Mauretaniam petit, appulsu littoris trucida- 
tus ; uxor ejus, cum se percussoribus obtulisset, simul in- 
terfecta est, nihil eorum, quae fierent, Vitellio anquirente : 

10 brevi auditu quamvis magna transibat, impar curis graviori- 
bus. Exercitum itinere terrestri pergere jubet: ipse 
Arare flumine devehitur, nullo principali paratu, sed vetere 
egestate conspicuus, donee Junius Blaesus, Lugdunensis 
Galliae rector, genere illustri, largus animo et par opibus, 

15 circumdaret principi ministeria, comitaretur liberaliter, eo 
ipso ingratus, quamvis odium Vitellius vernilibus blanditiis 
velaret. Praesto fuere Lugduni victricium victarumque 
partium duces. Valentem et Caecinam, pro concione lau- 
datos, curuli suae circumposuit. Mox universum exercitum 

20 occurrere infanti filio jubet : perlatumque et paludamento 
opertum sinu retinens Germanicum appellavit, cinxitque 
cunctis fortunae principalis insignibus : nimius honos inter 
secunda, rebus adversis in solatium cessit. 

LX. Turn interfecti centuriones promptissimi Othoniano- 

25 rum ; unde praecipua in Vitellium alienatio per Illyricos 
exercitus. Simul ceterae legiones contactu, et adversus 
Germanicos milites invidia, bellum meditabantur. Sueto- 
nium Paulinum ac Licinium Proculum, tristi mora squalidos 
tenuit, donee auditi necessariis magis defensionibus quam 

30 honestis uterentur. Proditionem ultro imputabant, spatium 
longi ante proelium itineris, fatigationem Othonianorum, 
permixtum vehiculis agmen, ac pleraque fortuita, fraudi 
suae assignantes : et Vitellius credidit de perfidia, et fidem 
absolvit. Salvius Titianus Othonis frater nullum discrimen 

35 adiit, pietate et ignavia excusatus. Mario Celso consulatus 
servatur : sed creditum fama, objectumque mox in senatu 
Caecilio Simplici, quod eum honorem pecunia mercari, nee 
sine exitio Celsi, voluisset. Restitit Vitellius, deditque 



A. C. 69.] LIBER. II. CAP. LXI, LXII, LXIIL, 103 

postea consulatum Simplici innoxium et inemptum. Tra- 
chalum ad versus criminantes Galeria uxor Yitellii pro t exit. 

LXI. Inter magnorum virorum discrimina (pudendum 
dictu) Mariccus quidam, e plebe Boiorum, inserere sese 
fortunae et provocare arma Romana simulatione numinum 5 
ausus est. Jamque assertor Galliarum et deus (nam id sibi 
indiderat) concitis octo millibus hominum, proximos Aedu- 
orum pagos trahebat, cum gravissima civitas, electa juven- 
tute, adjectis a Vitellio cohortibus, fanatieam multitudinem 
disjecit, Captus in eo proelio Mariccus ac mox feris objec- 10 
tus, quia non laniabatur stolidum vulgus inviolabilem ere- 
debat, donee spectante Yitellio interfectus est. 

LXII. Nee ultra in defectores aut bona cujusquam sae- 
vitum : rata fuere eorum qui acie Othoniana ceciderant 
testamenta, aut lex intestatis : prorsus, si hixuriae tempera- 15 
ret, avaritiani non timeres. Epularum foeda et inexplebilis 
libido : ex urbe atque Italia irritamenta gulae gestabantur, 
strepentibus ab utroque mari itineribus ; exhausti convivi- 
orum apparatibus principes civitatum; vastabantur ipsae 
civitates : degenerabat a labore ac virtute miles, assuetudine 20 
voluptatum et contemptu duels. Praemisit in urbem edic- 
tum, quo vocabulum Augusti differret, Caesaris non recipe- 
ret, cum de potestate nihil detraheret. Pulsi Italia mathe- 
matici. Cautum severe, ne equites Romani ludo et arena 
polluerentur. Priores id principes pecunia et saepius vi 25 
perpulerant : ac pleraque municipia et coloniae aemulaban- 
tur corruptissimum quemque adolescentium pretio illicere. 

LXIII. Sed Vitellius adventu fratris et irrepentibus do- 
minationis magistris superbior et atrocior, occidi Dolabellam 
jussit, quern in coloniam Aquinatem sepositum ab Othone 30 
retulimus. Dolabella, audita morte Othonis, urbem intro- 
ierat : id ei Plancius Varus, praetura functus, ex intimis 
Dolabellae amicis, apud Flavium Sabinum praefectum urbis 
objecit, tanquam rupta custodia ducem se victis partibus 
ostentasset : addidit tentatam cohortem, quae Ostiae age- 35 
ret : nee ullis tantorum criminum probationibus, in poeni- 
tentiam versus seram, veniam post scelus quaerebat. Cunc- 
tantem super tanta re Flavium Sabinum, Triaria L. Vitellii 



104 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

uxor ultra feminam ferox terruit, ne periculo Principis fa- 
mam clementiae afFectaret. Sabinus suopte ingenio mitis, 
ubi formido incessisset facilis mutatu, et in alieno discrimine 
sibi pavens, ne allevasse videretur, impulit ruentem. 
5 LXIV. Igitur Vitellius, metu et odio, quod Petroniam 
uxorem ejus mox Dolabella in matrimonium accepisset, 
vocatum per epistolas, vitata Flaminiae viae celebritate, 
devertere Interamnium atque ibi interfici jussit. Longum 
interfectori visum : in itinere ac taberna projectum humi 

10 jugulavit, magna cum invidia novi principatus, cujus hoc 
primum specimen noscebatur. Et Triariae licentiam mo- 
destum e proximo exemplum onerabat, Galeria imperatoris 
uxor, non immixta tristibus, et pari probitate mater Vitelli- 
orum Sextilia, antiqui moris. Dixisse quin etiam ad primas 

15 filii sui epistolas ferebatur, non Germanicum a se, sed Vitel- 
lium genitum. Nee ullis postea fortunae illecebris aut am- 
bitu civitatis in gaudium evicta, domus suae tantum adversa 
sensit. 

LXV. Digressum a Lugduno Vitellium M. Cluvius Rufus 

20 assequitur omissa Hispania, laetitiam et gratulationem vultu 
ferens, animo anxius et petitum se criminationibus gnarus. 
Hilarius Caesaris liber tus detulerat, tanquam, audi to Vitellii 
et Otbonis principatu, propriam ipse potentiam et posses- 
sionem Hispaniarum tentasset, eoque diplomatibus nullum 

25 principem praescripsisset. Interpretabatur quaedam ex ora- 
tionibus ejus contumeliosa in Vitellium, et pro se ipso popu- 
laria. Auctoritas Cluvii praevaluit, ut puniri ultro libertum 
suum Vitellius juberet. Cluvius comitatui Principis adjec- 
tus,non adempta Hispania, quam rexit absens exemplo L. 

30 Arruntii : eum Tiberius Caesar ob metum, Vitellius Clu- 
vium nulla formidine retinebat. Non idem Trebellio Maxi- 
mo bonos; profugerat Britannia ob iracundiam militum : 
missus est in locum ejus Vettius Bolanus e praesentibus. 
LXVI. Angebat Vitellium victarum legionum haudqua- 

35 quam fractus animus : sparsae per Italiam et victoribus 
permixtae, hostilia loquebantur, praecipua quartadecima- 
norum ferocia, qui se victos abnuebant : quippe Bedriacensi 
acie, vexillariis tantum pulsis, vires legionis non affuisse. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXVII, LXVIII. 105 

Remitti eos in Britanniam, unde a Nerone exciti erant, pla- 
cuit, atque interim Batavorum cohortes una tendere ob ve- 
terem adversus quartadecimanos discordiam. Nee diu in 
tantis armatorum odiis quies fuit. Augustae Taurinorum, 
dum opificem quendam Batavus ut fraudatorem insectatur, 5 
legionarius ut hospitem tuetur, sui cuique commilitones ag- 
gregati a conviciis ad caedem transiere : et proelium atrox 
arsisset, ni duae praetoriae cohortes, causam quartadecima- 
norum secutae, his fiduciam et metum Batavis fecissent : 
quos Vitellius agmini suo jungi ut fidos ; legionem, Graiis 10 
Alpibus traductam, eo rlexu itineris ire jubet, quo Yiennam 
vitarent : namque et Viennenses timebantur. Nocte qua 
proficiscebatur legio, relictis passim ignibus, pars Taurinae 
coloniae ambus ta : quod damnum, ut pleraque belli mala, 
majoribus aliarum urbium cladibus obliteratum. Quarta- 15 
decimani postquam Alpibus degressi sunt, seditiosissimus 
quisque signa Yiennam ferebant : consensu meliorum com- 
pressi, et legio in Britanniam transvecta. 

LXYII. Proximus Yitellio e praetoriis cohortibus metus 
erat : separati primum, deinde, addito honestae missionis 20 
lenimento, arma ad tribunos suos deferebant, donee motum 
a Yespasiano bellum crebresceret ; turn, resumpta militia, 
robur Flavianarum partium fuere. Prima classicorum legio 
in Hispaniam missa, ut pace et otio mitesceret : undecima 
ac septima suis hibernis redditae : tertiadecimani struere 25 
amphitheatra jussi : nam Caecina Cremonae, Yalens Bono- 
niae, spectaculum gladiatorum edere parabant, nunquam ita 
ad curas intento Yitellio, ut voluptatum oblivisceretur. 

LXYIII. Et quidem partes modeste distraxerat : apud 
victores orta seditio, ludicro initio, nisi numerus caesorum 30 
invidiam bello auxisset. Discubuerat Yitellius Ticini, adhi- 
bito ad epulas Yerginio. Legati tribunique, ex moribus 
imperatorum, severitatem aemulantur vel tempestivis con- 
viviis gaudent : perinde miles intentus aut licenter agit. 
Apud Yitellium omnia indisposita, temulenta, pervigiliis ac 35 
bacchanalibus quam disciplinae et castris propiora. Igitur 
duobus militibus, altero legionis quintae, altero e Gallis 
auxiliaribus, per lasciviam ad certamen luctandi accensis, 



106 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

postquam legionarius prociderat, insultante Gallo et iis qui 
ad spectandum convenerant in studia diductis, erupere le- 
gionarii in perniciem auxiliorum, ac duae cohortes interfec- 
tae. Remedium tumultus fuit alius tumultus : pulvis procul 
5 et arma aspiciebantur ; conclamatum repente, quartamde- 
cimam legionem verso itinere ad proelium venire : sed erant 
agminis coactores : agniti dempsere solicitudinem. Interim 
Verginii servus forte obvius ut percussor Yitellii insimula- 
tur : et ruebat ad convivium miles, mortem Verginii expo- 

10 scens. Ne Vitellius quidem, quanquam ad omnes suspi- 
ciones pavidus, de innocentia ejus dubitavit : aegre tamen 
cohibiti, qui exitium consularis et quondam ducis sui flagi- 
tabant. Nee quenquam saepius quam Verginium, omnis 
seditio infestavit : manebat admiratio viri et fama : sed ode- 

15 rant, ut fastiditi. 

LXIX. Postero die Vitellius, senatus legatione quam ibi 
opperiri jusserat audita, transgressus in castra ultro pieta- 
tem militum collaudavit, frementibus auxiliis tan turn impu- 
nitatis atque arrogantiae legionariis accessisse. Cohortes 

20 Batavorum, ne quid truculentius auderent, in Germaniam 
remissae, principium interno simul externoque bello paran- 
tibus fatis. . Reddita civitatibus Gallorum auxilia, ingens 
numerus, et prima statim defectione inter inania belli as- 
sumptus. Ceterum ut largitionibus affectae jam imperii 

25 opes sufficerent, amputari legionum auxiliorumque numeros 
jubet, vetitis supplementis : et promiscuae missiones offere- 
bantur. Exitiabile id reipublicae, ingratum militi, cui eadem 
munia inter paucos, periculaque ac labor crebrius redibant : 
et vires luxu corrumpebantur contra veterem disciplinam 

30 et instituta majorum, apud quos virtute quam pecunia res 
Romana melius stetit. 

LXX. Inde Vitellius Cremonam flexit, et, spectato mu- 
nere Caecinae, insistere Bedriacensibus campis ac vestigia 
recentis victoriae lustrare oculis concupivit. Foedum atque 

35 atrox spectaculum : intra quadragesimum pugnae diem la- 
cera corpora, trunci artus, putres virorum equorumque for- 
mae, infecta tabo humus, protritis arboribus ac frugibus 
dira vastitas : nee minus inhumana pars viae, quam Cremo- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXXI, LXXII. 1.07 

nenses lauru rosisque constraverant, exstructis aitaribus 
caesisque victimis regium in morem ; quae, laeta in prae- 
sens, mox perniciem ipsis fecere. Aderant Valens et Cae- 
cina, monstrabantque pugnae locos : hinc erupisse legionum 
agmen, hinc equites coortos : inde circumfusas auxiliorum 5 
manus. Jam tribuni praefectique, sua quisque facta extol- 
lentes, falsa, vera aut majora vero miscebant. Vulgus 
quoque militum clamore et gaudio deflectere via, spatia cer- 
tain inum recognoscere, aggerem armorum, strues corporum 
intueri, mirari. " Et erant, quos varia fors rerum lacrimae- 10 
que et misericordia subiret : at non Vitellius flexit oculos, 
nee tot millia insepultorum civium exhorruit: laetus ultro 
et tarn propinquae sortis ignarus instaurabat sacrum dis 
loci. 

LXXI. Exin Bononiae a Fabio Valente gladiatorum spec- 15 
taculum editur, advecto ex urbe cultu. Quantoque magis 
propinquabat, tanto corruptius iter, immixtis histrionibus et 
spadonum gregibus et cetero Neronianae aulae ingenio ; 
namque et Neronem ipsum Vitellius admiratione celebrabat, 
sectari cantantem solitus, non necessitate, qua honestissimus 20 
quisque, sed luxu et saginae mancipatus emptusque. Ut 
Yalenti et Caecinae vacuos honoris menses aperiret, coarc- 
tati aliorum consulatus, dissimulatus Marcii Macri, tanquam 
Othonianarum partium ducis ; et Yalerium Marinum, desti- 
natum a Galba consulem, distulit, nulla offensa, sed mitem 25 
et injuriam segniter laturum. Pedanius Costa omittitur, in- 
gratus principi, ut adversus Neronem ausus et Yerginii ex- 
stimulator : sed alias protulit causas : actaeque insuper Yi- 
tellio gratiae, consuetudine servitii. 

LXXII. Non ultra paucos dies, quanquam acribus initiis 30 
coeptum, mendacium valuit. Exstiterat quidam, Scriboni- 
anum se Camerinum ferens, Neronianorum temporum metu 
in Histria occultatum, quod illic clientelae et agri veterum 
Crassorum ac nominis favor manebat. Igitur deterrimo 
quoque in argumentum fabulae assumpto, vulgus credulum 35 
et quidam militum, errore veri seu turbarum studio, certa- 
tim aggregabantur, cum pertractus ad Yitellium interroga- 
tusque, quisnam mortalium esset, postquam nulla dictis fides, 



108 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

et a domino noscebatur, eonditione fugitivus, nomine Geta, 
sumptum de eo supplicium in servilem modum. 

LXXIII. Yix credibile memoratu est, quantum superbiae 
socordiaeque Vitellio adoleverit, postquam speculatores e 
5 Syria Judaeaque, adactum in verba ejus Orientem nuntia- 
vere. Nam etsi vagis adhuc et incertis auctoribus, erat 
tamen in ore famaque Vespasianus, ac plerumque ad nomen 
ejus Vitellius excitabatur. Turn ipse exercitusque, ut nullo 
aemulo, saevitia, libidine, raptu in externos mores proruperant. 

10 LXXIV. Et Yespasianus bellum armaque et procul vel 
juxta sitas vires circumspectabat. Miles ipsi adeo paratus ut 
praeeuntem sacramentum et fausta Vitellio omnia precan- 
tem per silentium audierint. Muciani animus nee Vespasiano 
alienus et in Titum pronior. Praefectus Aegypti, Tiberius 

15 Alexander, consilia sociaverat. Tertiam legionem, quod de 
Syria in Moesiam transisset, suam numerabat : ceterae Illy- 
rici legiones secuturae sperabantur. Namque omnes exer- 
citus flammaverat arrogantia venientium a Vitellio militum, 
quod truces corpore, horridi sermone, ceteros ut impares 

20 irridebant. Sed in tanta mole belli plerumque cunctatio : 
et Vespasianus, modo in spem erectus, aliquando adversa 
reputabat : " Quis ille dies foret, quo sexaginta aetatis annos 
et duos filios juvenes bello permitteret? Esse privatis cog- 
itatonibus progressum, et prout velint, plus minus ve sumi 

25 ex fortuna : imperium cupientibus nihil medium inter sum- 
ma et praecipitia." 

LXXV. Versabatur ante oculos Germanici exercitus ro- 
bur, notum viro militari : " Suas legiones civili bello inex- 
pertas, Vitellii victrices ; et apud victos plus querimoniarum 

30 quam virium : fluxam per discordias militum fidem, et peri- 
culum ex singulis. Quid enim profuturas cohortes alasque, 
si unus alterque praesenti facinori paratum ex diverso prae- 
mium petat ? Sic Scribonianum sub Claudio interfectum : 
sic percussorem ejus Volaginium e gregario ad summa 

35 militiae provectum. Facilius uni versos impelli quam singu- 
los vitari." 

LXXVI. His pavoribus nutantem et alii legati amicique 
firmabant, et Mucianus post multos secretosque sermones 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXXVII. 109 

jam et coram ita locutus : " Omnes qui magnarum rerum 
consilia suscipiunt, aestimare debent, an quod inchoatur, 
reipublicae utile, ipsis gloriosum, aut promptum effectu, aut 
certe non arduum sit. Simul ipse qui suadet considerandus 
est, adjiciatne consilio periculum suum, et si fortuna coeptis 5 
affuerit, cui summum decus acquiratur. Ego te, Vespasi- 
ane, ad imperium voco tarn salutare reipublicae quam tibi 
magnificum. Juxta deos in tua manu positum est. Nee 
speciem adulantis expaveris : a contumelia quam a laude 
propius fuerit, post Vitellium eligi. Non ad versus divi Au- 10 
gusti acerrimam mentem, nee adversus cautissimam Tiberii 
senectutem, ne contra Caii quidem aut Claudii vel Neronis 
fundatam longo imperio domum exsurgimus : cessisti etiam 
Galbae imaginibus. Torpere ultra et polluendam perden- 
damque rempublicam relinquere, sopor et ignavia videretur, 15 
etiam si tibi, quam inhonesta, tarn tuta servitus esset. Abiit 
jam et trans vec turn est tempus, quo posses videri concu- 
pisse : confugiendum est ad imperium. An excidit truci- 
datus Corbulo ? splendidior origine, quam nos sumus, fa- 
teor : sed et Nero nobilitate natalium Vitellium anteibat. 20 
Satis clarus est apud timentem, quisquis timetur. Et posse 
ab exercitu principem fieri, sibi ipse Vitellius documento, 
nullis stipendiis, nulla militari fama, Galbae odio provectus. 
Ne Othonem quidem ducis arte aut exercitus vi, sed prae- 
propera ipsius desperatione victum, jam desiderabilem et 25 
magnum principem fecit. Cum interim spargit legiones, 
exarmat cohortes, nova quotidie bello semina ministrat : si 
quid ardoris ac ferociae miles habuit, popinis et commissa- 
tionibus et principis imitatione deteritur. Tibi e Judaea et 
Syria et Aegypto novem legiones integrae, nulla acie ex- 30 
haustae, non discordia corruptae, sed firmatus usu miles et 
belli domitor externi, classium, alarum, cohortium robora, et 
fidissimi reges, et tua ante omnes experientia. 

LXXVII. " Nobis nihil ultra arrogabo, quam ne post 
Valentem et Caecinam numeremur. Ne tamen Mucianum 35 
socium spreveris, quia aemulum non experiris : me Vitellio 
antepono, te mihi. Tuae domui triumphale nomen, duo 
juvenes, capax jam imperii alter, et primis militiae annis 

10 



110 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

apud Germanicos quoque exercitus clarus. Absurdum fue- 
rit non cedere imperio ei, cujus filium adoptaturus essem, 
si ipse imperarem. Ceterum inter nos non idem prospera- 
rum adversarumque rerum ordo erit. Nam, si vincimus, 
5 honorem, quern dederis, habebo : discrimen ac pericula ex 
aequo patiemur : immo, ut melius est, tuos exercitus rege, 
mihi bellum et proeliorum incerta trade. Acriore hodie 
disciplina victi quam victores agunt : hos ira, odium, ultionis 
cupiditas ad virtutem accendit : illi per fastidium et contu- 

10 maciam hebescunt. Aperiet et recludet contecta et tu- 
mescentia victricium partium vulnera bellum ipsum. Nee 
mihi major in tua vigilantia, parsimonia, sapientia, fiducia 
est, quam in Vitellii torpore, inscitia, saevitia. Sed et me- 
liorem in bello causam quam in pace habemus : nam qui 

15 deliberant, desciverunt." 

LXXVIII. Post Muciani orationem ceteri audentius cir- 
cumsistere, hortari, responsa vatum et siderum motus re- 
ferre. Nee erat intactus tali superstitione, ut qui mox 
rerum dominus Seleucum quendam mathematicum recto- 

20 rem et praescium palam habuerit. Recursabant animo 
vetera omina : cupressus arbor in agris ejus, conspicua alti- 
tudine, repente prociderat, ac postera die eodem vestigio 
resurgens procera et latior virebat : grande id prosperum- 
que consensu haruspicum, et summa claritudo juveni admo- 

25 dum Vespasiano promissa. Sed primo triumphalia et con- 
sulatus et Judaicae victoriae decus implesse , fidem ominis 
videbantur: ut haec adeptus est, portendi sibi imperium 
credebat. Est Judaeam inter Syriamque Carmelus, ita 
vocant montem deumque : nee simulacrum deo aut tem- 

30 plum ; sic tradidere majores, aram tantum et reverentiam. 
Illic sacrificanti Yespasiano, cum spes occultas versaret ani- 
mo, Basilides sacerdos, inspectis identidem extis, " Quicquid 
est," inquit, " Vespasiane, quod paras, seu domum exstru- 
ere seu prolatare agros sive ampliare servitia, datur tibi 

35 magna sedes, ingentes termini, multum hominum." Has 
ambages et statim exceperat fama et tunc aperiebat: nee 
quicquam magis in ore vulgi : crebriores apud ipsum ser- 
mones, quanto sperantibus plura dicuntur. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXXIX, LXXX, LXXXI. Ill 

LXXIX. Hand dubia destinatione discessere, Mucianus 
Antiochiam, Yespasianus Caesaream : ilia Syriae, haec Ju- 
daeae caput est. Initium ferendi ad Vespasianum imperii 
Alexandriae coeptum, festinante Tiberio Alexandro, qui 
Kalendis Juliis sacramento ejus legiones adegit. Isque 5 
primus principatus dies in posterum celebratus, quamvis 
Judaicus exercitus quinto Nonas Julias apud ipsum jurasset 
eo ardore, ut ne Titus quidem filius exspectaretur, Syria re- 
means et consiliorum inter Mucianum ac patrem nuntius : 
cuncta impetu militum acta, non parata concione, non con- 10 
junctis legionibus. 

LXXX. Dum quaeritur tempus locusque, quodque in re 
tali difficillimum, prima vox, dum animo spes, timor, ratio, 
casus obversantur, egressum cubiculo Vespasianum pauci 
milites, solito assistentes ordine ut legatum salutaturi, im- 15 
peratorem salutavere. Turn ceteri accurrere, Caesarem et 
Augustum et omnia principatus vocabula cumulare: mens 
a metu ad fortunam transierat. In ipso nihil tumidum, ar- 
rogans, aut in rebus novis novum fuit. Ut primum tantae 
mutationis offusam oculis caliginem disjecit, militariter lo- 20 
cutus laeta omnia et affluentia excepit : namque id ipsum 
opperiens Mucianus, alacrem militem in verba Vespasiani 
adegit. Turn Antiocliensium theatrum ingressus, ubi illis 
consultare mos est, concurrentes et in adulationem effusos 
alloquitur, satis decorus etiam Graeca facundia, omnium- 25 
que, quae diceret atque ageret, arte quadam ostentator. 
Nihil aeque provinciam exercitumque accendit, quam quod 
asseverabat Mucianus statuisse Vitellium, ut Germanicas 
legiones in Syriam ad militiam opulentam quietamque trans- 
ferret, contra Syriacis legionibus Germanica hiberna coelo 30 
ac laboribus dura mutarentur. Quippe et provinciales 
sueto militum contubernio gaudebant, plerique necessitu- 
dinibus et propinquitatibus mixti; et militibus vetustate 
stipendiorurn nota et familiaria castra in modum penatium 
diligebantur. 35 

LXXXI. Ante Idus Julias Syria omnis in eodem sacra- 
mento fuit. Accessere cum regno Sohemus haud spernen- 
dis viribus, Antiochus vetustis opibus ingens et inservien- 



112 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

tium regum ditissimus : mox per occultos suorum nuntios 
excitus ab urbe Agrippa, ignaro adhuc Vitellio, celeri na- 
vigation properaverat : nee minore animo regina Berenice 
partes juvabat, florens aetate formaque, et seni quoque Ves- 
5 pasiano magnificentia munerum grata. Quicquid provin- 
ciarum alluitur mari Asia atque Achaia tenus, quantumque 
introrsus in Pontum et Armenios patescit, juravere : sed 
inermes legati regebant, nondum additis Cappadociae legi- 
onibus. Consilium de surama rerum Bervti habitum : illuc 

10 Mucianus cum legatis tribunisque et splendidissimo quoque 
centurionum ac militum venit, et e Judaico exercitu lecta 
decora. Tantum simul peditum equitumque et aemulan- 
tium inter se regum paratus speciem fortunae principalis 
effecerant. 

15 LXXXII. Prima belli cura agere delectus, revocare ve- 
teranos ; destinantur validae civitates exercendis armorum 
officinis ; apud Antiochenses aurum argentumque signatur : 
eaque cuncta per idoneos ministros, suis quaeque locis, fes- 
tinabantur. Ipse Vespasianus adire, hortari, bonos laude, 

20 segnes exemplo incitare saepius quam coercere, vitia magis 
amicorum quam virtutes dissimulans. Multos praefecturis 
et procurationibus, plerosque senatorii ordinis honore per- 
coluit, egregios viros et mox summa adeptos ; quibusdam 
fortuna pro virtu tibus fuit. Donativum militi neque Muci- 

25 anus prima concione, nisi modice, ostenderat ; ne Vespasi- 
anus quidem plus civili bello obtulit quam alii in pace, 
egregie firmus adversus militarem largitionem, eoque exer- 
citu meliore. Missi ad Parthum Armeniumque legati, pro- 
visumque, ne, versis ad civile bellum legionibus, terga nu- 

30 darentur. Titum ins tare Judaeae, Vespasian um obtinere 
claustra Aegypti placuit. Sufficere videbantur adversus 
Vitellium pars copiarum et dux Mucianus et Vespasiani 
nomen ac nihil arduum fatis. Ad omnes exercitus legatos- 
que scriptae epistolae, praeceptumque, ut praetorianos Vi- 

35 tellio infensos, reciperandae militiae praemio invitarent. 

LXXXIII. Mucianus cum expedita manu, socium magis 
imperii quam ministrum agens, non lento itinere, ne cunctari 
videretur, neque tamen properans, gliscere famam ipso spa- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXXXIV, LXXXV. 113 

tio sinebat, gnarus modicas vires sibi, et majora credi de 
absentibus. Sed legio sexta et tredecim vexillariorum millia 
ingenti agmine sequebantur. Classem e Ponto Byzantium 
adigi jusserat, ambiguus consilii, num, omissa Moesia, Dyr- 
rhachium pedite atque equite, simul longis navibus versum 5 
in Italiam mare clauderet, tuta pone tergum Aehaia Asia- 
que ; quas inermes exponi Vitellio, ni praesidiis firmarentur ; 
atque ipsum Vitellium in incerto fore, quam partem Italiae 
protegeret, si sibi Brundisium Tarentumque et Calabriae 
Lucaniaeque littora infestis classibus peterentur. 10 

LXXXIV. Igitur navium, militum, armorum paratu 
strepere provinciae. Sed nihil aeque fatigabat quam pecu- 
niarum conquisitio : eos esse belli civilis nervos dictitans 
Mucianus, non jus aut verum in cognitionibus, sed solam 
magnitudinem opum spectabat. Passim delationes ; et lo- 15 
cupletissimus quisque in praedam correpti : quae gravia 
atque intoleranda, sed necessitate armorum excusata, etiam 
in pace mansere, ipso Yespasiano inter initia imperii ad ob- 
tinendas iniquitates haud perinde obstinante, donee indul- 
gentia fortunae et pravis magistris didicit aususque est. 20 
Propriis quoque opibus Mucianus bellum juvit, largus pri- 
vatim, quod avidius de republica sumeret. Ceteri confe- 
rendarum pecuniarum exemplum secuti : rarissimus quisque 
eandem in reciperando licentiam habuerunt. 

LXXXY. Accelerata interim Yespasiani coepta Illyrici 25 
exercitus studio transgressi in partes. Tertia legio exem- 
plum ceteris Moesiae legionibus praebuit. Octava erat ac 
septima Claudiana, imbutae favore Othonis, quamvis proe- 
lio non interfuissent. Aquileiam progressae, proturbatis 
qui de Othone nuntiabant laceratisque vexillis nomen Yitellii 30 
praeferentibus, rapta postremo pecunia et inter se divisa, 
hostiliter egerant. Unde metus, et ex metu consilium : 
posse imputari Yespasiano, quae apud Vitellium excusanda 
erant. Ita tres Moesicae legiones per epistolas alliciebant 
Pannonicum exercitum, aut abnuenti vim parabant. In eo 35 
motu Aponius Saturninus Moesiae rector pessimum facinus 
audet, misso centurione ad interficiendum Tertium Julianum 
septimae legionis legatum, ob simultates, quibus causam 

10* 



114 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

partium praetendebat. Julianus, comperto discrimine et 
gnaris locorum ascitis, per avia Moesiae ultra montem Hae- 
mum profugit : nee deinde civili bello interfuit, per varias 
moras susceptum ad Vespasianum iter trahens, et ex nuntiis 
5 cunctabundus aut properans. 

LXXXVI. At in Pannonia tertiadecima legio ac septima 
Galbiana, dolorem iramque Bedriacensis pugnae retinentes, 
haud cunctanter Vespasiano accessere, vi praecipua Primi 
Antonii. Is legibus nocens et tempore Neronis falsi dam- 

10 natus, inter alia belli mala, senatorium ordinem reciperave- 
rat. Praepositus a Galba septimae legioni scriptitasse 
Othoni credebatur, due em se partibus offerens ; a quo ne- 
glectus in nullo Othoniani belli usu fuit : labantibus Vitellii 
rebus, Yespasianum secutus grande momentum addidit, 

15 strenuus manu, sermone promptus, serendae in alios invidiae 
artifex, discordiis et seditionibus potens, raptor, largitor, 
pace pessimus, bello non spernendus. Juncti inde Moesici 
ac Pannonici exercitus Dalmaticum militem traxere, quan- 
quam consularibus legatis nihil turbantibus. Titus Ampius 

20 Flavianus Pannoniam, Pompeius Silvanus Dalmatiam tene- 
bant, divites senes. Sed procurator aderat Cornelius Fus- 
cus, vigens aetate, claris natalibus. Prima juventa quietis 
cupidine senatorium ordinem exuerat : idem pro Galba dux 
coloniae suae, eaque opera procurationem adeptus, susceptis 

25 Yespasiani partibus, acerrimam bello facem praetulit : non 
tarn praemiis periculorum quam ipsis periculis laetus, pro 
certis et olim partis nova, ambigua, ancipitia malebat. 
Igitur movere et quatere, quicquid usquam aegrum foret, 
aggrediuntur. Scriptae in Britanniam ad quartadecimanos, 

30 in Hispaniam ad primanos epistolae, quod utraque legio pro 
Othone, adversa Yitellio fuerat. Sparguntur per Gallias 
literae ; momentoque temporis flagrabat ingens bellum, 
Illyricis exercitibus palam desciscentibus, ceteris fortunam 
secuturis. 

35 LXXXYII. Dum haec per provincias a Yespasiano duci- 
busque partium geruntur, Yitellius contemptior in dies 
segniorque, ad omnes municipiorum villarumque amoeni- 
tates resistens, gravi urbem agmine petebat. Sexaginta 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. LXXXVIII, LXXXIX. 115 

millia armatorum sequebantur, licentia corrupta ; calonum 
numerus amplior, procacissimis etiam inter servos lixarum 
ingeniis ; tot legatorum amieorumque comitatus inhabilis 
ad parendum, etiam si summa modestia regeretur. Onera- 
bant multitudinem obvii ex urbe senatores equitesque, qui- 5 
dam metu, multi per adulationem, ceteri ac paulatim omnes, 
ne, aliis proficiscentibus, ipsi remanerent. Aggregabantur 
e plebe, flagitiosa per obsequia Yitellio cogniti, scurrae, 
histriones, aurigae, quibus ille amicitiarum dehonestamen- 
tis mire gaudebat. Nee coloniae modo ant municipia con- 10 
gestu copiamm, sed ipsi cnltores arvaque, matnris jam 
frugibus, nt hostile solum vastabantur. 

LXXXVIII. Multae et atroces inter se militum caedes, 
post seditionem Ticini coeptam manente legionum auxilio- 
rumque discordia ; ubi adversus paganos certandum foret, 15 
consensu. Sed plurima strages ad septimum ab urbe lapi- 
dem. Singulis ibi militibus Vitellius paratos cibos, ut 
gladiatoriam saginam, dividebat ; et effusa plebes totis se 
castris miscuerat. Incuriosos milites (vernacula utebantur 
urbanitate) quidam spoliavere, abscisis furtim balteis, an 20 
accincti forent rogitantes. Non tulit ludibrium insolens 
contumeliae animus : inermem populum gladiis invasere : 
caesus inter alios pater militis, cum filium comitaretur; 
deinde agnitus, et vulgata caede temperatum ab innoxiis. 
In urbe tamen trepidatum, praecurrentibus passim militibus. 25 
Forum maxime petebant cupidine visendi locum, in quo 
Galba jacuisset. Nee minus saevum spectaculum erant 
ipsi, tergis ferarum et ingentibus telis horrentes, cum tur- 
bam populi per inscitiam parum vitarent, aut ubi lubrico 
viae vel occursu alicujus procidissent, ad jurgium, mox ad 30 
manus et ferrum transirent. Quin et tribuni praefectique 
cum terrore et armatorum catervis volitabant. 

LXXXIX. Ipse Vitellius a ponte Mulvio, insigni equo, 
paludatus accinctusque, senatum et populum ante se 
agens, quo minus, ut captam, urbem ingrederetur, amico- 35 
rum consilio deterritus, sumpta praetexta et composito 
agmine incessit. Quatuor legionum aquilae per frontem, 
totidemque circa e legionibus aliis vexilla, mox duodecim 



116 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822, 

alarum signa, et post peditum ordines, eques : dein quatuor 
et triginta cohortes, ut nomina gentium aut species armo- 
rum forent, discretae. Ante aquilam praefecti castrorum 
tribunique et primi centurionum, Candida veste ; ceteri 
5 juxta suam quisque centuriam, armis donisque fulgentes. 
Et militum phalerae torquesque splendebant : decora facies, 
et non Vitellio principe dignus exercitus. Sic Capitolium 
ingressus, atque ibi matrem complexus, Augustae nomine 
honoravit. 

10 XC. Postera die, tanquam apud alterius civitatis senatum 
populumque, magnificam orationem de semetipso prompsit, 
industriam temperantiamque suam laudibus attollens, con- 
sciis flagitiorum ipsis qui aderant omnique Italia, per quam 
somno et luxu pudendus incesserat. Yulgus tamen vacu- 

15 um curis, et sine falsi verique discrimine solitas adulationes 
edoctum, clamore et vocibus astrepebat; abnuentique no- 
men Augusti expressere, ut assumeret, tarn frustra quam 
recusaverat. 

XCI. Apud civitatem cuncta interpretantem, funesti 

20 ominis loco acceptum est, quod maximum pontificatum 
adeptus Vitellius de caerimoniis publicis quintodecimo 
Kalendas Augusti edixisset antiquitus infausto die Creme- 
rensi Alliensique cladibus : adeo omnis humani divinique 
juris expers, pari libertorum, amicorum socordia, velut inter 

25 temulentos agebat. Sed comitia consulum cum candidates 
civiliter celebrans, omnem infimae plebis rumorem, in thea- 
tro ut spectator, in circo ut fautor, affectavit : quae grata 
sane et popularia, si a virtutibus proficiscerentur, memoria 
vitae prioris indecora et vilia accipiebantur. Yentitabat in 

30 senatum, etiam cum parvis de rebus patres consulerentur. 
Ac forte Priscus Helvidius praetor designatus contra stu- 
dium ejus censuerat. Commotus primo Vitellius, non 
tamen ultra quam tribunos plebis in auxilium spretae potes- 
tatis advocavit. Mox mitigantibus amicis, qui altiorem 

35 iracundiam ejus verebantur, nihil novi accidisse respondit, 
quod duo senatores in republica dissentirent : solitum se 
etiam Thraseae contradicere. Irrisere plerique impuden- 
tiam aemulationis ; aliis id ipsum placebat, quod neminem 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XCII, XCIII. 117 

ex praepotentibus, sed Thraseam ad exemplar verae gloriae 
legisset. 

XCII. Praeposuerat praetorianis P. Sabinum a praefec- 
tura cohortis, Julium Priscum turn centurionem : Priscus 
Yalentis, Sabinus Caecinae gratia pollebant. Inter discor- 5 
des Vitellio nihil auctoritatis ; munia imperii Caecina ac 
Yalens obibant, olim anxii odiis, quae bello et castris male 
dissimulata, pra vitas amicorum et fecunda gignendis in- 
imicitiis civitas auxerat, dum ambitu, comitatu et immensis 
salutantium agminibus contendunt comparanturque, variis 10 
in hunc aut ilium Vitellii inclinationibus. Nee unquam 
satis fida potentia, ubi nimia est. Simul ipsum Vitellium, 
subitis offensis aut intempestivis blanditiis mutabilem, con- 
temnebant metuebantque. JSTec eo segnius invaserant 
domos, hortos opesque imperii, cum flebilis et egens nobi- 15 
lium turba, quos ipsos liberosque patriae Galba reddiderat, 
nulla principis misericordia juvarentur. Gratum primori- 
bus civitatis etiam plebs approbavit, quod reversis ab ex- 
silio jura libertorum concessisset, quanquam id omni modo 
servilia ingenia corrumpebant, abditis pecuniis per occultos 20 
aut ambitiosos sinus ; et quidam in domum Caesaris trans- 
gressi, atque ipsis dominis potentiores. 

XCIII. Sed miles, plenis castris et redundante multitu- 
dine, in porticibus aut delubris et urbe tota vagus, non 
principia noscere, non servare vigilias neque labore firmari : 25 
per illecebras urbis et inhonesta dictu, corpus otio, animum 
libidinibus imminuebant. Postremo, ne salutis quidem 
cura, infamibus Yaticani locis magna pars tetendit : unde 
crebrae in vulgus mortes. Et adjacente Tiberi, Germano- 
rum Gallorumque obnoxia morbis corpora fluminis aviditas 30 
et aestus impatientia labefecit. Insuper confusus pravitate 
vel ambitu ordo militiae. Sedecim praetoriae, quatuor 
urbanae cohortes scribebantur, quis singula millia inessent. 
Plus in eo delectu Yalens audebat, tanquam ipsum Caeci- 
nam periculo exemisset : sane adventu ejus partes conva- 35 
luerant, et sinistrum lenti itineris rumorem prospero proelio 
verterat : omnisque inferioris Germaniae miles Yalentem as- 
sectabatur : unde primum creditur Caecinae fides fluitasse. 



118 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

XCIV. Ceterum non ita ducibus indulsit Yitellius, ut 
non plus militi liceret : sibi quisque militiam sumpsere ; 
quamvis indignus, si ita maluerat, urbanae militiae ascribe- 
batur; rursus bonis remanere inter legionarios aut alares 
5 volentibus permissum : nee deerant, qui vellent, fessi mor- 
bis et intemperiem coeli incusantes. Robora tamen legio- 
nibus alisque subtracta : convulsum castrorum decus, vi- 
ginti millibus e toto exercitu permixtis magis quam electis. 
Concionante Vitellio postulantur ad supplieium Asiaticus et 

10 Flavius et Rufinus duces Galliarum, quod pro Vindice bel- 
lassent. Nee coercebat ejusmodi voces Vitellius, super 
insitam inerti animo ignaviam, conscius sibi instare donati- 
vum et deesse pecuniam, omnia alia militi largiebatur. 
Liberti principum conferre pro numero mancipiorum, ut 

15 tributum, jussi. Ipse sola perdendi cura stabula aurigis 
exstruere, circum gladiatorum ferarumque spectaculis op- 
plere, tanquam in summa abundantia pecuniae illudere. 

XCY. Quin et natalem Vitellii diem Caecina ac Yalens, 
editis tota urbe vicatim gladiatoribus, celebravere ingenti 

20 paratu et ante ilium diem insolito. Laetum foedissimo 
cuique, apud bonos invidiae fuit, quod exstructis in campo 
Martio aris inferias Neroni fecisset : caesae publice victimae 
cremataeque : facem Augus tales subdidere ; quod sacerdo- 
tium, ut Romulus Tatio regi, ita Caesar Tiberius Juliae 

25 genti sacra vit. Nondum quartus a victoria mensis, et liber- 
tus Vitellii Asiaticus Polyclitos, Patrobios et vetera odio- 
rum nomina aequabat. Nemo in ilia aula probitate aut in- 
dustria certavit : unum ad potentiam iter, prodigis epulis 
et sumptu ganeaque satiare inexplebiles Vitellii libidines. 

30 Ipse abunde ratus, si praesentibus frueretur, nee in longius 
consultans, novies millies sestertium paucissimis mensibus 
intervertisse creditur. Magna et misera civitas, eodem 
anno Otbonem Vitelliumque passa, inter Vinios, Fabios, 
Icelos, Asiaticos, varia et pudenda sorte agebat, donee 

35 successere Mucianus et Marcellus, et magis alii homines 
quam alii mores. 

XCVI. Prima Vitellio tertiae legionis defectio nuntiatur, 
missis ab Aponio Saturnino epistolis, antequam is quoque 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. XCVII, XCVIII, XCIX. 119 

Vespasiani partibus aggregaretur. Sed neque Aponius 
cuncta, ut trepidans re subita, perscripserat, et amici adu- 
lantes mollius interpretabantur : unius legionis earn sedi- 
tionem, ceteris exercitibus constare fidem. In hunc modum 
etiam Vitellius apud milites disseruit, praetorianos nuper 5 
exauctoratos insectatus, a quibus falsos rumores dispergi, 
nee ullum civilis belli metum asseverabat, suppresso Ves- 
pasiani nomine et vagis per urbem militibus, qui sermones 
populi coercerent : id praecipuum alimentum famae erat. 

XCVII. Auxilia tamen e Germania Britanniaque et Hi- 10 
spaniis excivit, segniter et necessitatem dissimulans. Pe- 
rinde legati provinciaeque cunctabantur, Hordeonius Flac- 
cus, suspectis jam Batavis, anxius proprio bello, Vectius 
Bolanus nunquam satis quieta Britannia, et uterque ambi- 
gui. JSTeque ex Hispaniis properabatur, nullo turn ibi con- 15 
sulari: trium legionum legati, pares jure, et prosperis 
Vitellii rebus certaturi ad obsequium, adversam ejus fortu- 
nam ex aequo detrectabant. In Africa legio cohortesque, 
delectae a Clodio Macro, mox a Galba dimissae, rursus 
jussu Vitellii militiam cepere : simul cetera juventus dabat 20 
impigre nomina : quippe integrum illic ac favorabilem pro- 
consulatum Vitellius, famosum invisumque Vespasianus 
egerat : perinde socii de imperio utriusque conjectabant : 
sed experimentum contra fuit. 

XCVIII. Ac primo Valerius Festus legatus studia pro- 25 
vincialium cum fide juvit: mox nutabat, palam epistolis 
edictisque Vitellium, occultis nuntiis Vespasianum fovens, 
et haec illave defensurus, prout invaluissent. Deprehensi 
cum Uteris edictisque Vespasiani per Raetiam et Gallias 
militum et centurionum quidam, ad Vitellium missi necan- SO 
tur : plures fefellere fide amicorum aut suomet astu occul- 
tati. Ita Vitellii paratus noscebantur, Vespasiani consilio- 
rum pleraque ignota, primum socordia Vitellii ; deinde 
Pannonicae Alpes praesidiis insessae nuntios retinebant: 
mare quoque Etesiarum flatu in Orientem navigantibus se- 35 
cundum, inde adversum erat. 

XCIX. Tandem irruptione hostium, atrocibus undique 
nuntiis exterritus, Caecinam ac Valentem expedire ad bel- 



120 C. CORN. TACITI FIISTOR. [A. U. 822. 

lum jubet. Praemissus Caecina : Valentem, e gravi corpo- 
ris morbo turn primum assurgentem, infirmitas tardabat. 
Longe alia proficiscentis ex urbe Germanici exercitus spe- 
cies : non vigor corporibus, non ardor animis ; lentum et 
5 rarum agmen, fluxa arma, segnes equi : impatiens solis, 
pulveris, tempestatum, quantumque hebes ad sustinendum 
laborem miles, tanto ad discordias promptior. Accedebat 
hue Caecinae ambitio vetus, torpor recens nimia fortunae 
indulgentia soluti in luxum ; seu perfidiam meditato infrin- 

10 gere exercitus virtutem inter artes erat. Credidere pleri- 
que Flavii Sabini consiliis concussam Caecinae mentem, 
ministro sermonum Rubrio Gallo : rata apud Vespasianura 
fore pacta transitionis. Simul odiorum invidiaeque erga 
Fabium Valentem admonebatur, ut impar apud Vitellium, 

15 gratiam viresque apud novum Principem pararet. 

C. Caecina complexu Vitellii multo cum honore digres- 
sus, partem equitum ad occupandam Cremonam praemisit: 
mox vexilla quartae, quintaedecimae et sextaedecimae le- 
gionum ; dein quinta et duoetvicesima secutae ; postremo 

20 agmine unaetvicesima Rapax et prima Italica incessere, 
cum vexillariis trium Britannicarum legionum et electis 
auxiliis. Profecto Caecina, scripsit Fabius Valens exercitui, 
quern ipse ductaverat, ut in itinere opperiretur; sic sibi 
cum Caecina convenisse ; qui praesens eoque validior, im- 

25 mutatum id consilium finxit, ut ingruenti bello tota mole 
occurreretur. Ita accelerare legiones Cremonam, pars 
Hostiliam petere jussae : ipse Ravennam devertit, praetexto 
classem alloquendi: mox Patavii secretum componendae 
proditionis quaesitum. Namque Lucilius Bassus post prae- 

30 fecturam alae Ravennati simul ac Misenensi classibus a 
Vitellio praepositus, quod non statim praefecturam praetorii 
adeptus foret, iniquam iracundiam flagitiosa perfidia ulci- 
scebatur : nee sciri potest, traxeritne Caecinam, an (quod 
evenit inter malos, ut et similes sint) eadem illos pravitas 

35 impulerit. 

CI. Scriptores temporum, qui potiente rerum Flavia 
domo monumenta belli hujusce composuerunt, curam pacis 
et amorem reipublicae, corruptas in adulationem causas, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER II. CAP. CI. 121 

tradidere. Nobis, super insitam levitatem, et, prodito Gal- 
ba, vilem mox fidem, aemulatione etiam invidiaque, ne ab 
aliis apud Yitellium anteirentur, pervertisse ipsum videntur. 
Caecina legiones assecutus, centurionum militumque animos 
obstinatos pro Vitellio variis artibus subruebat : Basso 5 
eadem molienti minor difficultas erat, lubrica ad mutandam 
fidem classe ob memoriam recentis pro Othone militiae. 

11 



C. CORNELII TACITI 

HISTORIARUM 

LIBER TERTIUS. 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 

Cap. I. Flavianis de ratione belli deliberantibus moram alii, II, festi- 
nationem Antonius Primus suadet, III, et obtinet. IV. Proxima 
Corn. Fusci auctoritas. V. Principes Sarmatarum Iazygum in 
commilitium asciti. Sido et Italicus Suevorum reges tracti in partes. 
VI, VII. Antonio, Italiam invadenti, comes est Arrius Varus. Mul- 
tas urbes occupant. VIII. Verona fit belli sedes. Moras frustra 
aut sero nectunt Vespasianus et Mucianus. IX. Interim duces 
mutuis epistolis bellum gerunt. X. T. Ampius Flavianus, militi 
guspectus, ab Antonio servatur. XI. Hie alteram quoque seditionem, 
odio Aponii Saturnini ortam, comprimit. XII. Lucilius Bassus, et 
XIII, XIV, Caecina, a Vitellio deficientes, a militibus suis conji- 
ciuntur in vincula. XV. Discordes Vitellianos ad Bedriacum ag- 
gredi statuit Antonius. XVI. Aviditate navandae operae Arrius 
Varus rem in discrimen adducit ; XVII, earn Antonius constantia et 
virtute restituit, XVIII, victoria potitur. XIX. Vespasiani, ea freti, 
Cremonam expugnare deposcunt. XX. Inconsultum eorum ardorem 
frustra retinet Antonius. XXI. Sed adventantis hostis terror ob- 
structas mentes consiliis ducis aperit. XXII — XXV. Proelium atrox, 
anceps. Antonius egregii ducis munia implet, victoriam aufert. 
XXVI — XXXIII. Cremona obsessa, capta, cremata, XXXIV, postea 
restituta. XXXV. Victae legiones dispersae. 

XXXVI. Vitellius luxu torpet. XXXVII. In urbem revectus Caecinam 
condemnat ; ei Rosium Regulum in unum diem consulem sufficit. 
XXXVIII, XXXIX. Junius Blaesus fraude L. Vitellii veneno tolli- 
tur. XL, XLI. Fabius Valens libidine et cunctatione Vitellianorum 
res submit et, XLII, Flavianis Italiam occupantibus, XLIII, ad 
Stoechadas delatus, capitur. XLIV. Hispaniae, Galliae, Britannia, 
cuncta ad Vespasiani opes conversa. XLV. Turbat tamen Britan- 
niam Venutius. Ibi varia sorte pugnatum. XL VI. Turbata quoque 
Germania. Mota et Dacorum gens, a Muciano ex Oriente reduce, 
repressa. XLVII, XLVIII. Anicetus Polemonis libertus, Pontum 



BREYIARIUM LIBRI. 123 

infestans, capitur. Vespasianus Alexandriam pergit, ut urbem fame 
urgeat. XLIX. Antonius, post Cremonam superbior, L, partem 
copiarum Veronae relinquit, partem in Vitellianos expedit. LI. 
Nefarium fachius militis, ob occisum asefratrem praemium petentis. 
LII. Festinationem Antonii apud Vespasianum criminatur Mucia- 
nus. LI II. Is jactan tius quam ad principem literas componit, Mu- 
cianum insectatus. Inde graves ducum simultates. 

LIV. Vitellius stulta dissimulatione cladis ad Cremonam remedia ma- 
lorum differt. Notabilis constantia Julii Agrestis. LV. Vitellius, 
ut e somno excitus, Apenninum obsideri jubet ; honores largitur ; in 
castra venit. LVI. Prodigia. Praecipuum ipse Vitellius ostentum, 
ignarus militiae, improvidus consilii, Romam revertit, perculsus de- 
fectione Misenensis elassis. LVII. Puteolani Vespasiano ; Capua 
Vitellio favet CI. Julianus in partes Vespasiani transit, qui Tarra- 
cinam occupat. LVIII. Vitellius fratrem Lucium bello per Cam- 
paniam opponit. Ipse Romae ex plebe et servitiis exercitum corra- 
dit, qui brevi dilabitur. LIX. Flaviani Apenninum transeunt; ad 
eo6 Cerialis, Vitellii custodias elapsus, venit et inter duces assumitur. 
LX. Pugnae avidos milites aegre cohibet Antonius. LXI. Jam 
crebra fiunt ad Vespasianum transfugia. Priscus et Alphenus 
castra deserunt, ad Vitellium regressi. LXJI, LXIII. Caeso Va- 
lente, desperabundus miles sub signis vexillisque ad Vespasianum 
transit. Pax et salus offeruntur Vitellio, si se dedat 

LXIV. Flavius Sabinus, urbis praefectus frustra incitatur ad arma ; 
LXV, pacis amans, de pace agit cum Vitellio, LXVI, cedere parato, 
ni sui reniterentur. LXVII, LXVIII. Hi, pullo amictu palatio de- 
gressum, et pro concione cedere se imperio testantem, eo redire co- 
gun t LXIX. Interim Sabinus rempublicam susceperat, eique ade- 
rant Romani omnis ordinis, frementibus Germanicis cohortibus. Mo- 
dicum proelium, Vespasianis prosperum. Sabinus capitolium occu- 
pat, quod, LXX, Corn. Martiale frustra ad Vitellium misso, LXXI, 
Vitelliani oppugnant, incendunt. LXXII. De prioribus capitolii fatis 
digressio. LXXIII. Vitelliani cuncta sanguine, ferro, flammis mis- 
cent. Flavium Sabinum et Atticum consulem capiunt LXXIV. 
Domitianus sacricolae habitu delitescit. Sabinus, invito Vitellio, 
trucidatur. LXXV. Sabini laudes. Atticus servatur. 

LXXVI, LXXVII. Tarracina a L- Vitellio obsessa et capta. Julianus 
jugulatur. Triariae immodestia. LXXVIII. Flaviani, incertum 
Antonii an Muciani culpa cunctantes, obsessi capitolii fama exciti, 
LXXIX, ad urbem properant. Ibi equestre proelium, Ceriali adver- 
sum. LXXX, LXXXI. Vitellius legatos et Vestales virgines pro 
pace aut induciis mittit, nee obtinet. LXXXII. Flaviani tripartito 
agmiue urbi propinquant. Varia ibi fortuna pugnatur. LXXXIII. 
Foeda lascivientis urbis facies, spectatore populo et plausu diversas 
partes fovente. LXXXI V. Castra praetoria expugnantur. LXXXV. 



124 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Vitellius, e pudenda Iatebra protractus et contumeliis affectus, ad 
Gemonias propellitur. LXXXVI. Vita Vitellii moresque. Domiti- 
anus Caesar consalutatur. Gesta uno eodemque anno. 

Meliore fato fideque partium Flavianarum duces consilia 
belli tractabant. Poetovionem in hiberna tertiaedecimae le- 
gionis convenerant : illic agitavere, placeretne obstrui Pan- 
noniae Alpes, donee a tergo vires universae consurgerent, an 
5 ire cominus et certare pro Italia constantius foret. Quibus 
opperiri auxilia et trahere bellum videbatur, Germanicarum 
legionum vim famamque extollebant, " et advenisse mox cum 
Vitellio Britannici exercitus robora : ipsis nee numerum 
parem pulsarum nuper legionum ; et quanquam atrociter 

10 loquerentur, minorem esse apud victos animum. Sed inses- 
sis interim Alpibus, venturum cum copiis Orientis Mucia- 
num. Superesse Vespasiano mare, classes, studia provincia- 
rum, per quas velut alterius belli molem cieret. Ita salubri 
mora novas vires affore, et praesentibus nihil periturum. ,, 

15 II. Ad ea Antonius Primus (is acerrimus belli concitator) 
festinationem ipsis utilem, Vitellio exitiosam disseruit : " plus 
socordiae quam fiduciae accessisse victoribus : neque enim 
in procinctu et castris habitos ; per omnia Italiae municipia 
desides, tan turn hospitibus metuendos, quanto ferocius ante 

20 se egerint, tanto cupidius insolitas voluptates hausisse. 
Circo quoque ac tlieatris et amoenitate urbis emollitos, aut 
valetudinibus fessos. Sed addito spatio, rediturum et his 
robur meditatione belli, nee procul Germaniam, unde vires ; 
Britanniam freto dirimi ; juxta Gallias Hispaniasque ; utrim- 

25 que viros, equos, tributa : ipsamque Italiam et opes Urbis : 
ac si inferre anna ultro velint, duas classes vacuumque 
Illyricum mare. Quid turn claustra montium profutura ? 
quid tractum in aestatem aliam bellum ? unde interim pe- 
cuniam et commeatus ? Quin potius eo ipso uterentur, 

30 quod Pannonicae legiones, deceptae magis quam victae, 
resurgere in ultionem properent, Moesici exercitus integras 
vires attulerint. Si numerus militum potius quam legionum 
putetur, plus hinc roboris, nihil libidinum ; et profuisse dis- 
cipline ipsum pudorem. Equites vero ne turn quidem 

35 victos, sed quanquam rebus adversis disjectam Vitellii aciem. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. Ill, IV, V. 125 

Duae tunc Pannonicae ac Moesicae alae perrupere hostem : 
nunc sedecim alarum conjuncta signa pulsu sonituque 
et nube ipsa operient ac superfundent oblitos proeliorum 
equites equosque. Nisi quis retinet, idem suasor auctorque 
consilii ero. Yos, quibus fortuna in integro est, legiones 5 
continete : mibi expeditae cobortes sufficient. Jam resera- 
tam Italiam, impulsas Vitellii res audietis : juvabit sequi et 
vestigiis vincentis insistere." 

III. Haec ac talia flagrans oculis, truci voce, quo latius 
audiretur (etenim se centuriones et quid am militum consilio 10 
miscuerant), ita effudit, ut cautos quoque ac providos per- 
moveret, vulgus et ceteri unum virum ducemque, spreta 
aliorum segnitia, laudibus ferrent. Hanc sui famam ea 
statim concione commoverat, qua recitatis Yespasiani episto- 
lis non, ut plerique, incerta disseruit, buc illuc tracturus 15 
interpretatione, prout conduxisset : aperte descendisse in 
causam videbatur : eoque gravior militibus erat culpae vel 
gloriae socius. 

IY. Proxima Cornelii Fusci procuratoris auctoritas : is 
quoque inclementer in Yitellium invehi solitus nihil spei sibi 20 
inter adversa reliquerat. T. Ampius Flavianus, natura ac 
senecta cunctatior, suspiciones militum irritabat, tanquam 
affinitatis cum Yitellio meminisset ; idemque, quod coeptante 
legionum motu profugus, dein sponte remeaverat, perfidiae 
locum quaesisse credebatur. Nam Flavianum, omissa Pan- 25 
nonia, ingressum Italiam et discrimini exemptum, rerum 
novarum cupido legati nomen resumere et misceri civilibus 
armis impulerat, suadente Cornelio Fusco, non quia indus- 
tria Flaviani egebat, sed ut consulare nomen surgentibus 
cum maxime partibus bonesta specie praetenderetur. 30 

V. Ceterum ut transmitter in Italiam impune et usui 
foret, scriptum Aponio Saturnino, cum exercitu Moesico 
celeraret. Ac ne inermes provinciae barbaris nationibus 
exponerentur, principes Sarmatarum Iazygum, penes quos 
civitatis regimen, in commilitium asciti ; plebem quoque et 35 
vim equitum, qua sola valent, offerebant : remissum id mu- 
nus, ne inter discordias externa molirentur, aut majore ex 
diverso mercede jus fasque exuerent. Trahuntur in partes 

11* 



126 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Sido atque Italicus reges Suevorum, quis vetus obsequium 
erga Romanos, et gens fidei commissae patientior : posita 
in latus auxilia, infesta Raetia, cui Portius Septiminus 
procurator erat, incorruptae erga Vitellium fidei. Igitur 
5 Sextilius Felix cum ala Auriana et octo cohortibus ac Nori- 
corum juventute ad occupandam ripam Aeni fluminis, quod 
Rhaetos Noricosque interfluit, missus : nee his aut illis proe- 
lium tentantibus, fortuna partium alibi transacta. 

VI. Antonio vexillarios e cohortibus et partem equitum 
10 ad invadendam Italiam rapienti comes fuit Arrius Varus, 

strenuus bello; quam gloriam et dux Corbulo et prosperae 
in Armenia res addiderant. Idem secretis apud Neronem 
rumoribus ferebatur Corbulonis virtutes criminatus. Unde 
infami gratia primum pilum adepto, laeta ad praesens male 

15 parta, mox in perniciem vertere. Sed Primus ac Varus, 
occupata Aquileia, in proxima quaeque et Opitergii et Altini 
laetis animis accipiuntur : relictum Altini praesidium ad- 
versus classem Ravennatem, nondum defectione ejus audita : 
inde Patavium et Ateste partibus adjunxere: illic cognitum 

20 tres Vitellianas cohortes et alam, cui Sebonianae nomen, ad 
forum Allieni, ponte juncto, consedisse. Placuit occasio 
invadendi incuriosos ; nam id quoque nuntiabatur : luce 
prima inermos plerosque oppressere. Prae dictum, ut paucis 
interfectis ceteros pavore ad mutandam fidem cogerent ; et 

25 fuere, qui se statim dederent : plures, abrupto ponte, in- 
stanti hosti viam abstulerunt. 

VII. Vulgata victoria, post principia belli secundum 
Flavianos, duae legiones, septima Galbiana, tertiadecima 
Gemina, cum Vedio Aquila legato Patavium alacres veni- 

30 unt : ibi pauci dies ad requiem sumpti, et Minucius Justus 
praefectus castrorum legionis septimae, quia adductius quam 
civili bello imperitabat, subtractus militum irae ad Vespasi- 
anum missus est. Desiderata diu res, interpretatione glori- 
aque in majus accipitur, postquam Galbae imagines discordia 

35 temporum subversas in omnibus municipiis recoli jussit 
Antonius, decorum pro causa ratus, si placere Galbae prin- 
cipatus et partes revirescere crederentur. 

VIII. Quaesitum inde, quae sedes bello legeretur. Ve- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP, IX. 127 

rona potior visa, patentibus circum campis ad pugnam 
equestrem, qua praevalebant : simul coloniam copiis vali- 
dam auferre Vitellio in rem famamque videbatur, Pos- 
sessa ipso transitu Yicetia ; quod per se parum (etenim 
modicae municipio vires) magni momenti locum obtinuit, 5 
reputantibus illic Caecinam genitum et patriam hostium 
duci ereptam. In Veronensibus pretium fuit ; exemplo 
opibusque partes juvere. Et inter] ectus exercitus per Rae- 
tiam Juliasque Alpes, ac ne pervium ilia Germanicis exer- 
citibus foret, obsepserat ; quae ignara Vespasiano, aut ve- 10 
tita : quippe Aquileiae sisti bellum exspectarique Mucianum 
jubebat, adjiciebatque imperio consilium, quando Aegyptus, 
claustra annonae, vectigalia opulentissimarum provinciarum 
obtinerentur, posse Vitellii exercitum egestate stipendii fru- 
mentique ad deditionem subigi. Eadem Mucianus crebris 15 
epistolis monebat, incruentam et" sine luctu victoriam et alia 
hujuscemodi praetexendo, sed gloriae avidus atque omne 
belli decus sibi retinens. Ceterum ex distantibus terrarum 
spatiis consilia post res afferebantur. 

IX, Igitur repentino incursu Antonius stationes hostium 20 
irrumpit, tentatisque levi proelio animis, ex aequo discessum. 
Mox Caecina inter Hostiliam, vicum Veronensium, et pa- 
ludes Tartari fluminis, castra permuniit, tutus loco, cum 
terga flumine, latera objectu paludis tegerentur : quod si 
affuisset fides, aut opprimi universis Vitellianorum viribus 25 
duae legiones, nondum conjuncto Moesico exercitu, potuere, 
aut retro actae, deserta Italia, turpem fugam conscivissent. 
Sed Caecina per varias moras prima hostibus prodidit tem- 
pora belli, dum quos armis pellere promptum erat, epistolis 
increpat, donee per nuntios pacta perfidiae firmaret. Inte- 30 
rim Aponius Saturninus cum legione septima Claudiana 
advenit : legioni tribunus Vipstanus Messalla praeerat, Cla- 
ris majoribus, egregius ipse, et qui solus ad id bellum artes 
bonas attulisset. Has ad copias nequaquam Vitellianis 
pares (quippe tres adhuc legiones erant) misit epistolas 35 
Caecina, temeritatem victa arma tractantium incusans : 
simul virtus Germanici exercitus laudibus attollebatur, Vi- 
tellii modica et vulgari mentione, nulla in Vespasianum con- 



128 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

tumelia : nihil prorsus, quod aut corrumperet hostem aut 
terreret. Flavianarum partium duces, omissa prions fortu- 
nae defensione, pro Yespasiano magnifice, pro causa fiden- 
ter, de exercitu securi, in Vitellium ut inimici praesumpsere, 
5 facta tribunis centurionibusque retinendi, quae Vitellius in- 
dulsisset, spe : atque ipsum Caecinam non obscure ad tran- 
sitionem hortabantur. Recitatae pro concione epistolae 
addidere fiduciam, quod submisse Caecina, velut offendere 
Vespasianum timens, ipsorum duces contemptim, tanquam 

10 insultantes Yitellio, scripsissent. 

X. Adventu deinde duarum legionum, e quibus tertiam 
Dillius Aponianus, octavam Numisius Lupus ducebant, 
ostentare vires et militari vallo Yeronam circumdare pla : 
cuit. Forte Galbianae legioni in adversa fronte valli opus 

15 cesserat, et visi procul sociorum equites vanam formidinem 
ut hostes fecere. Rapiuntur anna, et ut proditionis ira 
militum in T. Ampium Flavianum incubuit, nullo criminis 
argumento, sed jam pridem invisus turbine quodam ad ex- 
itium poscebatur :propinquum Yitellii, proditorem Othonis, 

20 interceptorem donativi clamitabant. Nee defensioni locus, 
quanquam supplices manus tenderet, humi plerumque stra- 
tus, lacera veste, pectus atque ora singultu quatiens ; id 
ipsum apud infensos incitamentum erat, tanquam nimius 
pavor conscientiam argueret. Obturbabatur militum voci- 

25 bus Aponius, cum loqui coeptaret ; fremitu et clamore cet- 
eros aspernantur : uni Antonio apertae militum aures : 
namque et facundia aderat, mulcendique vulgum artes et 
auctoritas. Ubi crudescere seditio, et a conviciis et probris 
ad tela et manus transibant, injici catenas Flaviano jubet. 

30 Sensit ludibrium miles, disjectisque qui tribunal tuebantur, 
extrema vis parabatur. Opposuit sinum Antonius, stricto 
ferro, aut militum se manibus aut suis moriturum obtestans : 
ut quemque notum et aliquo militari decore insignem aspex- 
erat, ad ferendam opem nomine ciens. Mox conversus ad 

35 signa et bellorum deos, hostium potius exercitibus ilium 
furorem, illam discordiam injicerent, orabat, donee fatisce- 
ret seditio, et extremo jam die sua quisque in tentoria dila- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XI, XII. 129 

berentur. Profectus eadem nocte Flavianus, obviis Vespa- 
siaDi Uteris, discrimini exemptus est. 

XI. Legiones, velut tabe infectae, Aponium Saturninum 
Moesici exercitus legatum eo atrocius aggrediuntur, quod 
non ut prius labore et opere fessae, sed medio diei exarse- 5 
rant, vulgatis epistolis, quas Saturninus ad Yitelliuni scrip- 
sisse credebatur. Ut olim virtutis modestiaeque, tunc pro- 
cacitatis et petulantiae certamen erat, ne minus violenter 
Aponium quam Flavianum ad supplicium deposcerent. 
Quippe Moesicae legiones adjutam a se Pannonicorum ul- 10 
tionem referentes, et Pannonici, velut absolverentur aliorum 
seditione, iterare culpam gaudebant. In hortos, in quibus 
devertebatur Saturninus, pergunt, nee tarn Primus et Apo- 
nianus et Messalla, quanquam omni modo nisi, eripuere Sa- 
turninum, quam obscuritas latebrarum quibus occulebatur, 15 
vacantium forte balnearum fornacibus abditus : mox, omissis 
lictoribus, Patavium concessit. Digressu consularium uni 
Antonio vis ac potestas in utrumque exercitum fuit, ceden- 
tibus collegis et obversis militum studiis : nee deerant, qui 
crederent, utramque seditionem fraude Antonii coeptam, 20 
ut solus bello frueretur. 

XII. Ne in Yitellii quidem partibus quietae mentes, exi- 
tiosiore discordia, non suspicionibus vulgi, sed perfidia du- 
cum turbabantur. Lucilius Bassus classis Ravennatis prae- 
fectus ambiguos militum animos, quod magna pars Dalmatae 25 
Pannoniique erant, quae provinciae Yespasiano tenebantur, 
partibus ejus aggregaverat. Nox proditioni electa, ut ce- 
teris ignaris soli in principia defectores coirent. Bassus 
pudore, seu metu quisnam exitus foret, intra domum oppe- 
riebatur. Trierarchi magno tumultu Yitellii imagines inva- 30 
dunt, et paucis resistentium obtruncatis ceterum vulgus re- 
rum novarum studio in Yespasianum inclinabat. Turn pro- 
gressus Lucilius auctorem se palam praebet : classis Cor- 
nell um Fuscum praefectum sibi destinat, qui propere accu- 
currit. Bassus honorata custodia Liburnicis navibus Atriam 35 
pervectus, a praefecto alae Yivennio Rufino praesidium illic 
agitante vincitur. Sed exsoluta statim vincula interventu 
Hormi Caesaris liberti : is quoque inter duces habebatur. 



130 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

XIII. At Caecina, defectione classis vulgata, primores 
centurionum et paucos militum, ceteris per militiae munera 
dispersis, secretum castrorum affectans in principia vocat. 
Ibi Vespasiani virtutem viresque partium extollit : transfu- 
5 gisse classem ; in arcto comraeatum, adversas Gallias His- 
paniasque, nihil in urbe fidum ; atque omnia de Vitellio in 
deterius. Mox incipientibus qui conscii aderant, ceteros 
re nova attonitos in verba Vespasiani adigit : simul Vitellii 
imagines dereptae, et missi qui Antonio nuntiarent. Sed 

10 ubi totis castris in fama proditio, recurrens in principia miles 
praescriptum Vespasiani nomen, projectas Vitellii effigies 
aspexit, vastum primo silentium, mox cuncta simul erum- 
punt : " Hue cecidisse Germanici exercitus gloriam, ut sine 
proelio, sine vulnere, vinctas manus et capta traderent arma ? 

15 Quas enim ex diverso legiones ? Nempe victas ; et abesse 
unicum Othoniani exercitus robur, primanos quartadecima- 
nosque ; quos tamen iisdem illis campis fuderint strave- 
rintque, ut armatorum millia, velut grex venalium, exsuli 
Antonio donum darentur ; octo nimirum legiones unius clas- 

20 sis accessionem fore. Id Basso, id Caecinae visum : post- 
quam domos, hortos, opes principi abstulerint, etiam mili- 
tibus principem auferre. Integros incruentosque, Flavianis 
quoque partibus viles, quid dicturos reposcentibus aut pros- 
pera aut ad versa ?" 

25 XIV. Haec singuli, haec universi, ut quemque dolor im- 
pulerat, vociferantes, initio a quinta legione orto, repositis 
Vitellii imaginibus, vincla Caecinae injiciunt . Fabium Fa- 
bull um quintae legionis legatum et Cassium Longum prae- 
fectum castrorum duces deligunt : forte oblatos trium Li- 

30 burnicarum milites, ignaros et insontes, trucidant : relic tis 
castris, abrupto ponte, Hostiliam rursus, inde Cremonam 
pergunt, ut legionibus primae Italicae et unietvicesimae 
Rapaci jungerentur, quas Caecina ad obtinendam Cremo- 
nam cum parte equitum praemiserat. 

35 XV. Ubi haec comperta Antonio, discordes animis, dis- 
cretos viribus hostium exercitus aggredi statuit, antequam 
ducibus auctoritas, minti obsequium et junctis legionibus 
fiducia rediret: namque Fabium Valentem profectum ab 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III, CAP. XVI, XVII. 131 

urbe acceleraturumque cognita Caecinae proditione conjee- 
tabat ; et fidus Yitellio Fabius, nee militiae ignarus. Simul 
ingens Germanorum vis per Raetiam timebatur : et Britan- 
nia G-alliaque et Hispania auxilia Yitellius acciverat, im- 
mensam belli luem, ni Antonius, id ipsum metuens, festinato 5 
proelio victoriam praecepisset. Universo cum exercitu, se- 
cundis a Yerona castris, Bedriacum venit : postero die, 
legionibus ad muniendum retentis, auxiliares cohortes in 
Cremonensem agrum missae, ut specie parandarum copia- 
rum civili praeda miles imbueretur. Ipse cum quatuor 10 
millibus equitum ad octavum a Bedriaco progressus, quo 
licentius popularentur : exploratores (ut mos est) longius 
curabant. 

XYL Quinta ferine hora diei erat, cum citus eques ad- 
ventare hostes, praegredi paucos, motum fremitumque late 15 
audiri nuntiavit. Dum Antonius quidnam agendum con- 
sultat, aviditate navandae operae Arrius Yarus cum promp- 
tissimis equitum prorupit, impulitque Yitellianos, modica 
caede : nam plurium accursu versa fortuna, et acerrimus 
quisque sequentium fugae ultimus erat : nee sponte Anto- 20 
nii properatum et fore, quae acciderant, rebatur. Hortatus 
suos, ut magno animo capesserent pugnam, diductis in latera 
turmis, vacuum medio relinquit iter, quo Yarum equitesque 
ejus reciperet : jussae armari legiones : datum per agros 
signum, ut qua cuique proximum, omissa praeda, proelio 25 
occurreret. Pavidus interim Yarus turbae suorum misce- 
tur, intulitque formidinem : pulsi cum sauciis integri, suo- 
metipsi metu et angustiis viarum conflictabantur. 

XYII. Nullum in ilia trepidatione Antonius constantis 
ducis aut fortissimi militis omcium omisit : occursare paven- 30 
tibus ; retinere cedentes : ubi plurimus labor, unde aliqua 
spes, consilio, manu, voce insignis hosti, conpicuus suis : eo 
postremo ardoris provectus est, ut vexillarium fugientem 
hasta transverberaret : mox raptum vexillum in hostem 
vertit : quo pudore haud plures quam centum equites resti- 35 
tere. Juvit locus, arctiore illic via et fracto interfluentis 
rivi ponte, qui incerto alveo et praecipitibus ripis fugam im- 
pediebat : ea necessitas seu fortuna lapsas jam partes resti- 



132 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

tuit. Firmati inter se densis ordinibus excipiunt Vitellianos 
temere effusos ; atque illi consternantur. Antonius instare 
perculsis, sternere obvios. Simul ceteri, ut cuique ingeni- 
um, spoliare, capere, arraa equosque abripere: et exciti 
5 prospero clamore, qui modo per agros fuga palabantur, 
victoriae se miscebant. 

XVIII. Ad quartum a Cremona lapidem fulsere legio- 
num signa Rapacis atque Italicae, laeto inter initia equitum 
suorum proelio illuc usque provecta. Sed ubi fortuna con- 

10 tra fuit, non laxare ordines, non recipere turbatos, non ob- 
viam ire ultroque aggredi hostem, tantum per spatium 
cursu et pugnando fessum. Forte victi baud perinde rebus 
prospcris ducem desideraverant, atque in adversis deesse 
intelligebant. Nutantem aciem victor equitatus incursat; 

15 et Vipstanus Messalla tribunus cum Moesicis auxiliaribus 
assequitur, quos militiae legionariis, quanquam raptim duc- 
tos, aequabant. Ita mixtus eques pedesque rupere legio- 
num agmen. Et propinqua Cremonensium moenia, quanto 
plus spei ad effugium, minorem ad resistendum animum 

20 dabant. 

XIX. Nee Antonius ultra institit, memor laboris ac vul- 
nerum, quibus tarn anceps proelii fortuna, quamvis prospero 
fine, equites equosque afflictaverat. Inumbrante vespera 
universum Flaviani exercitus robur advenit : utque cumulos 

25 super et recentia caede vestigia incessere, quasi debellatum 
foret, pergere Cremonam et victos in deditionem accipere 
aut expugnare deposcunt. Haec in medio, pulchra dictu. 
Ilia sibi quisque : " Posse coloniam piano sitam impetu 
capi. Idem audaciae per tenebras irrumpentibus, et majo- 

30 rem rapiendi licentiam : quod si lucem opperiantur, jam 
pacem, jam preces et pro labore ac vulneribus clementiam 
et gloriam, inania laturos : sed opes Cremonensium in sinu 
praefectorum legatorumque fore. Expugnatae urbis prae- 
dam ad militem, deditae ad duces pertinere." Spernuntur 

35 centuriones tribunique, ac ne vox cujusquam audiatur, qua- 
tiunt arma, rupturi imperium, ni ducantur. 

XX. Turn Antonius inserens se manipulis, ubi aspectu et 
auctoritate silentium fecerat : " Non se decus, neque preti- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XXI. 133 

um eripere tarn bene meritis" affirmabat; "sed divisa inter 
exercitum ducesque munia : militibus cupidinem pugnandi 
convenire ; duces providendo, consultando, cunctatione sae- 
pius quam temeritate prodesse. Ut pro virili portione 
armis ac manu victoriam juverit, ratione et consilio, propriis 5 
ducis artibus, profuturum. JNeque enim ambigua esse, 
quae occurrant, noctem et ignotae situm urbis, intus hostes 
et cuncta insidiis opportuna : non, si pateant portae, nisi ex- 
plorato, nisi die intrandum. An oppugnationem inchoatu- 
ros, adempto omni prospectu, quis aequus locus, quanta 10 
altitudo moenium, tormentisne et teiis an operibus et vineis 
aggredienda urbs foret ?" Mox con versus ad singulos, 
" num secures dolabrasque et cetera expugnandis urbibus 
secum attulissent,"rogitabat. Et cum abnuerent, "gladiisne," 
inquit, " et pilis perfringere ac subruere muros ullae manus 15 
possunt ? Si aggerem struere, si pluteis cratibusve protegi 
necesse fuerit, ut vulgus improvidum, irriti stabimus, altitu- 
dinem turrium et aliena munimenta mirantes ? Quin potius 
mora noctis unius, advectis tormentis machinisque, vim vic- 
toriamque nobiscum ferimus ?" Simul lixas calonesque 20 
cum recentissimis equitum Bedriacum mittit, copias cetera- 
que usui allaturos. 

XXI. Id vero aegre tolerante milite prope sedition em 
ventum, cum progressi equites sub ipsa moenia vagos ex 
Cremonensibus corripiunt: quorum indicio noscitur sex Vi- 25 
tellianas legiones omnemque exercitum, qui Hostiliae egerat, 
eo ipso die triginta millia passuum emensum, comperta 
suorum clade in proelium accingi ac jam affore. Is terror 
obstructas mentes consiliis ducis aperuit. Sistere tertiam 
decimam legionem in ipso viae Postumiae aggere jubet, cui 30 
juncta a laevo septima Galbiana patenti campo stetit, dein 
septima Claudiana agresti fossa (ita locus erat) praemunita ; 
dextro octava per apertum limitem, mox tertia densis ar- 
bustis intersepta : hie aquilarum signorumque ordo : milites 
mixti per tenebras, ut fors tulerat : praetorianum vexillum 35 
proximum tertianis, cohortes auxiliorum in cornibus, latera 
ac terga equite circumdata : Sido atque Italicus Suevi cum 
delectis popularium primori in acie versabantur. 

12 



134 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

XXII. At Vitellianus exercitus, cui acquiescere Cremo- 
nae et reciperatis cibo somnoque viribus confectum algore 
atque inedia hostem postera die profligare ac proruere ratio 
fuit, indigus rectoris, inops consilii, tertia ferme noctis hora 

5 paratis jam dispositisque Flavianis impingitur. Ordinem 
agminis disjecti per iram ac tenebras asseverare non ausim, 
quanquam alii tradiderint quartam Macedonicam dextro 
suorum cornu, quintam et quintamdecimam cum vexillis 
nonae secundaeque et vicesimae Britannicarum legionum 

10 mediam aciem, sextadecimanos duoetvicesimanosque et pri- 
manos laevum cornu complesse. Rapaces atque Italici 
omnibus se manipulis miscuerant. Eques auxiliaque sibi 
ipsi locum legere. Proelium tota nocte varium, anceps, 
atrox, his, rursus illis exitiabile. Nihil animus aut manus, 

15 ne oculi quidem provisu juvabant : eadem utraque acie 
anna ; crebris interrogationibus notum pugnae signum ; 
permixta vexilla, ut quisque globus capta ex hostibus hue 
vel illuc raptabat. Urgebatur maxime septima legio, nuper 
a Galba conscripta, Occisi sex primorum ordinum centu- 

20 riones ; abrepta quaedam signa : ipsam aquilam Atilius 
Verus primipili centurio multa cum hostium strage et ad 
extremum moriens servaverat. 

XXIII. Sustinuit labantem aciem Antonius accitis prae- 
torianis ; qui ubi excepere pugnam, pellunt hostem, dein 

25 pelluntur. Nam que Vitelliani tormenta in aggerem viae 
contulerant, ut tela vacuo atque aperto excuterentur, dis- 
persa primo et arbustis sine hostium noxa illisa. Magnitu- 
dine eximia quintaedecimae legionis balista ingentibus saxis 
hostilem aciem proruebat, lateque cladem intulissent, ni duo 

30 milites praeclarum facinus ausi, arreptis e strage scutis ig- 
norati, vincla ac libramenta tormentorum abscidissent : sta- 
tim confossi sunt, eoque intercidere nomina : de facto haud 
ambigitur. Neutro inclinaverat fortuna, donee adulta nocte 
luna surgens ostenderet acies falleretque. Sed Flavianis 

35 aequior a tergo : hinc majores equorum virorumque umbrae, 
et falso, ut in corpora, ictu tela hostium citra cadebant : 
Vitelliani adverso lumine collucentes velut ex occulto jacu- 
lantibus incauti offerebantur. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XXIV, XXV. 135 

XXIV. Igitur Antonius, ubi noscere suos noscique pote- 
rat, alios pudore et probris, multos laude et hortatu, omnes 
spe promissisque accendens, " cur rursus sumpsissent arma, ,, 
Pannonicas legiones interrogabat : " illos esse campos, in 

^ruibus abolere labem prioris ignominiae, ubi reciperare glo- 5 
riam possent." Turn ad Moesicos conversus, " principes 
auctoresque belli' ' ciebat : " frustra minis et verbis provo- 
cates Vitellianos, si manus eorum oculosque non tolera- 
rent." Haec, ut quosque accesserat : plura ad tertianos, 
veterum recentiumque admonens : ut " sub M. Antonio 10 
Parthos, sub Corbulone Armenios, nuper Sarmatas pe- 
pulissent." Mox infensius praetorianis : " Vos" inquit, 
"nisi vineitis, pagani, quis alius imperator, quae castra 
alia excipient? illic signa armaque vestra sunt, et mors 
victis : nam ignominiam consumpsistis." Undique cla- 15 
mor ; et orientem solem (ita in Syria mos est) tertiani 
salutavere. 

XXV. Vagus inde, an consilio ducis subditus rumor, ad- 
venisse Mucianum, exercitus invicem salutasse : gradum in- 
fer unt, quasi recentibus auxiliis aucti, rariore jam Vitellia- 20 
norum acie, ut quos nullo rectore suus quemque impetus 
vel pavor contraheret diduceretve. Postquam pulsos sensit 
Antonius, denso agmine obturbabat : laxati ordines abrum- 
puntur ; nee restitui quivere impedientibus vehiculis tor- 
men tisque. Per limitem viae sparguntur festinatione con- 25 
sectandi victores. Eo notabilior caedes fuit, quia films 
patrem interfecit. Rem nominaque, auctore Vipstano Mes- 
salla, tradam. Julius Mansuetus ex Hispania, Rapaci legi- 
oni additus, impubem filium domi liquerat : is mox adultus, 
inter septimanos a Galba conscriptus, oblatum forte patrem 30 
et vulnere stratum, dum semianimem scrutatur, agnitus ag- 
noscensque et exsanguem amplexus, voce flebili precabatur 
placatos patris manes, neve se ut parricidam aversarentur : 
publicum id f acinus ; et unum militem quotam civilium ar- 
morum partem ? Simul attollere corpus, aperire humum, 35 
supremo erga parentem officio fungi. Advertere proximi, 
deinde plures : hinc per omnem aciem miraculum et ques- 
tus et saevissimi belli exsecratio : nee eo segnius propinquos, 



136 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

affines, fratres trucidatos spoliant : factum esse scelus lo- 
quuntur faciuntque. 

XXVI. Ut Cremonam venere, novum immensumque opus 
occurrit. Othoniano bello Germanicus miles moenibus Cre- 

5 monensium castra sua, castris vallum circumjecerat, eaque ( 
munimenta rursus auxerat : quorum aspectu haesere vic- 
tores, incertis ducibus quid juberent. Incipere oppugna- 
tionem, fesso per diem noctemque exercitu, arduum, et 
nullo juxta subsidio anceps : sin Bedriacum redirent, in- 

10 tolerandus tarn longi itineris labor, et victoria ad irritum 
revolvebatur : munire castra, id quoque, propinquis hosti- 
bus, formidolosum, ne dispersos et opus molientes subita 
eruptione turbarent. Quae super cuncta terrebat ipsorum 
miles periculi quam morae patientior : quippe ingrata quae 

15 tuta, ex temeritate spes ; omnisque caedes et vulnera et 
sanguis aviditate praedae pensabantur. 

XXVII. Hue inclinavit Antonius, cingique vallum coro- 
na jussit : primo sagittis saxisque eminus certabant, majore 
Flavianorum pernicie, in quos tela desuper librabantur : 

20 mox vallum portasque legionibus attribuit, ut discretus 
labor fortes ignavosque distingueret, atque ipsa contentione 
decoris accenderentur. Proxima Bedriacensi viae tertiani 
septimanique sumpsere, dexteriora valli octava ac septima 
Claudiana ; tertiadecimanos ad Brixianam portam impetus 

25 tulit. Paulum inde morae, dum ex proximis agris ligones, 
dolabras, et alii falces scalasque convectant : turn elatis 
super capita scutis, densa testudine succedunt. Romanae 
utrimque artes : pondera saxorum Vitelliani provolvunt, 
disjectam fluitantemque testudinem lanceis contisque scru- 

30 tantur, donee, soluta compage scutorum, exsangues aut 
laceros prosternerent multa cum strage. 

XXVIII. Incesserat cunctatio, ni duces fesso militi et 
velut irritas exhortationes abnuenti Cremonam monstras- 
sent. Hormine ingenium, ut Messalla tradit, an potior 

35 auctor sit C. Plinius qui Antonium incusat, haud facile dis- 
creverim, nisi quod neque Antonius neque Hormus a fama 
vitaque sua, quamvis pessimo flagitio, degeneravere. Non 
jam sanguis neque vulnera morabantur, quin subruerent 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XXIX, XXX, XXXI. 137 

vallum quaterentque portas, innixi humeris et super itera- 
tam testudinem scandentes prensarent nostrum tela bra- 
chiaque : integri cum sauciis, semineces cum exspirantibus 
volvuntur, varia pereunt^um forma et omni imagine mor- 
tium. 5 

XXIX. Acerrimum septimae tertiaeque legionum cer- 
tamen ; et dux Antonius cum delectis auxiliaribus eodem 
incubuerat. Obstinatos inter se cum sustinere Vitelliani 
nequirent et superjacta tela testudine laberentur, ipsam 
postremo balistam in subeuntes pepulere, quae ut ad prae- 10 
sens disjecit obruitque quos inciderat, ita pinnas ac summa 
valli ruina sua traxit : simul juncta turris ictibus saxorum 
cessit ; qua septimani dum nituntur cuneis, tertianus securi- 
bus gladiisque portam perfregit. Primum irrupisse C. Volu- 
sium tertiae legionis militem inter omnes auctores constat : 15 
is in vallum egressus, deturbatis qui restiterant, conspicuus 
manu ac voce capta castra conclamavit. Ceteri, trepidis 
jam Vitellianis seque e vallo praecipitantibus, perrupere : 
completur caede quantum inter castra murosque vacui fuit. 

XXX. Ac rursus nova labor um facies ; ardua urbis moe- 20 
nia, saxeae turres, ferrati portarum obices, vibrans tela miles, 
frequens obstrictusque Vitellianis partibus Cremonensis po- 
pulus, magna pars Italiae stato in eosdem dies mercatu 
congregata ; quod defensoribus auxilium ob multitudinem, 
oppugnantibus incitamentum ob praedam erat. Rapi ignes 25 
Antonius inferrique amoenissimis extra urbem aedificiis ju- 
bet, si damno rerum suarum Cremonenses ad mutandam 
fidem traherentur : propinqua muris tecta et altitudinem 
moenium egressa fortissimo quoque militum complet : illi 
trabibus tegulisque et facibus propugnatores deturbant. 30 

XXXI. Jam legiones in testudinem glomerabantur et alii 
tela saxaque incutiebant, cum languescere paulatim Vitel- 
lianorum animi. Ut quis ordine anteibat, cedere for- 
tunae, ne Cremona quoque excisa, nulla ultra venia, om- 
nisque ira victoris non in vulgus inops, sed in tribunos 35 
centurionesque, ubi pretium caedis erat, reverteretur. Gre- 
garius miles, futuri socors et ignobilitate tutior, perstabat : 
vagi per vias, in domibus abditi, pacem ne turn quidem ora- 

12* 



138 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

bant, cum bellum posuissent. Primores castrorum nomen 
atque imagines Yitellii amoliuntur : catenas Caecinae (nam 
etiam turn vinctus erat) exsolvunt orantque, ut causae suae 
deprecator assistat : aspernantem tumentemque lacrimis fa- 
5 tigant, extremum malorum, tot fortissimi viri proditoris 
opem invocantes : mox velamenta et infulas pro muris 
ostentant. Cum Antonius inhiberi tela jussisset, signa 
aquilasque extulere : maestum inermium agmen, dejectis 
in terram oculis, sequebatur. Circumstiterant victores, et 

10 primo ingerebant probra, intentabant ictus : mox, ut prae- 
beri ora contumeliis et, posita omni ferocia, cuncta victi 
patiebantur, subit recordatio illos esse qui nuper Bedriaci 
victoriae temperassent. Sed ubi Caecina, praetexta lictori- 
busque insignis, dimota turba, consul incessit, exarsere vic- 

15 tores : superbiam saevitiamque, (adeo in visa scelera sunt) 
etiam perfidiam objectabant. Obstitit Antonius, datisque 
defensoribus ad Vespasianum dimisit. 

XXXII. Plebs interim Cremonensium inter armatos con- 
flictabatur : nee procul caede aberant, cum precibus ducum 

20 mitigatus est miles. Et vocatos ad concionem Antonius 
alloquitur, magnifice victores, victos clementer, de Cremona 
in neutrum. Exercitus praeter insitam praedandi cupidi- 
nem vetere odio ad excidium Cremonensium incubuit : ju- 
visse partes Yitellianas Othonis quoque bello credebantur : 

25 mox tertiadecimanos ad exstruendum amphitheatrum relic- 
tos, ut sunt procacia urbanae plebis ingenia, petulantibus 
jurgiis illuserant. Auxit invidiam editum illic a Caecina 
gladiatorum spectaculum, eademque rursus belli sedes ; et 
praebiti in acie Vitellianis cibi, caesae quaedam feminae 

30 studio partium ad proelium progressae : tempus quoque 
mercatus ditem alioqui coloniam majorum opum specie 
complebat. Ceteri duces in obscuro : Antonium fortuna 
famaque omnium oculis exposuerat : is balneas abluendo 
cruori propere petit : excepta vox est, cum teporem incu- 

35 saret, statim futurum, ut incalescerent. Vernile dictum 
omnem invidiam in eum vertit, tanquam signum incen- 
dendae Cremonae dedisset, quae jam flagrabat. 

XXXIII. <Juadraginta armatorum millia irrupere, calo- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XXXIV, XXXV. 139 

num lixarumque amplior numeras et in libidinem ac sae- 
vitiam corruptior. Non dignitas, non aetas protegebat, 
quo minus stupra caedibus, caedes stupris miscerentur. 
Grandaevos senes, exacta aetate feminas, viles ad praedam, 
in ludibrium trahebant. Ubi adulta virgo aut quis forma 5 
conspicuus incidisset, vi manibusque rapientium divulsus 
ipsos postremo direptores in mutuam perniciem agebat : 
dum pecuniam vel gravia auro templorum dona sibi quisque 
trahunt, majore aliorum vi truncabantur. Quidam obvia 
aspernati, verberibus tormentisque dominorum abdita scru- 10 
tari, defossa eruere, faces in manibus, quas, ubi praedam 
egesserant, in vacuas domos et inania templa per lasciviam 
jaculabantur : utque exercitu vario linguis, moribus, cui 
cives, socii, extend interessent, diversae cupidines et aliud 
cuique fas, nee quicquam illicitum. Per quatriduum Cre- 15 
mona suffecit. Cum omnia sacra profanaque in igne con- 
sidered, solum Mentis templum stetit ante moenia, loco 
seu numine defensum. 

XXXIV. Hie exitus Cremonae anno ducentesimo octo- 
gesimo sexto a primordio sui. Condita erat Tiberio Sem- 20 
pronio et Cornelio consulibus, ingruente in Italiam Hanni- 
bale, propugnaculum adversus Gallos trans Padum agentes, 

et si qua alia vis per Alpes rueret. Igitur numero colono- 
rum, opportunitate fluminum, ubere agri, annexu connu- 
biisque gentium adolevit floruitque bellis externis intacta, 25 
civilibus infelix. Antonius pudore flagitii, crebrescente 
invidia, edixit, ne quis Cremonenses captivos detineret: 
irritamque praedam militibus efFecerat consensus Italiae, 
emptionem talium mancipiorum aspernantis. Occidi coe- 
pere : quod ubi enotuit, a propinquis affinibusque occulte 30 
redemptabantur : mox rediit Cremonam reliquus populus : 
reposita fora templaque munificentia municipum ; et Ves- 
pasianus hortabatur. 

XXXV. Ceterum assidere sepultae urbis ruinis noxia 
tabo humus haud diu permisit ; ad tertium lapidem pro- 35 
gressi, vagos paventesque Vitellianos, sua quemque apud 
signa, componunt. Et victae legiones, ne manente adhuc 
civili bello ambigue agerent, per Illyricum dispersae. In 



140 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Britanniam inde et Hispanias nuntios famamque, in Galliam 
Julium Calenum tribunum, in Germaniam Alpinum Mon- 
tanum praefectum cohortis, quod hie Trevir, Calenus Ae- 
duus, uterque Vitelliani fuerant, ostentui misere. Simul 
5 transitus Alpium praesidiis occupati, suspecta Germania 
tanquam in auxilium Yitellii accingeretur. 

XXXVI. At Vitellius, profecto Caecina, cum Fabium 
Valentem paucis post diebus ad bellum impulisset, curis 
luxum obtendebat : non parare arma, non alloquio exerci- 

10 tioque militem firmare, non in ore vulgi agere; sed umbra - 
culis hortorum abditus, ut ignava animalia, quibus si cibum 
suggeras, jacent torpentque, praeterita, instantia, futura 
pari oblivione dimiserat. Atque ilium in nemore Aricino 
desidem et marcentem proditio Lucilii Bassi ac defectio 

15 classis Ravennatis perculit. Nee multo post de Caecina 
affertur mixtus gaudio dolor, et descivisse, et ab exercitu 
vinctum. Plus apud socordem animum laetitia quam cura 
valuit : multa cum exsultatione in urbem revectus, fre- 
quenti concione pietatem militum laudibus cumulat. P. 

20 Sabinum praetorii praefectum ob amicitiam Caecinae vinciri 
jubet, substituto in locum ejus Alfeno Yaro. 

XXXVII. Mox senatum composita in magnificentiam 
oratione allocutus, exquisitis patrum adulationibus attollitur. 
Initium atrocis in Caecinam sententiae a L. Vitellio factum ; 

25 dein ceteri, composita indignatione, quod consul rempubli- 
cam, dux imperatorem, tantis opibus, tot honoribus cumu- 
latus amicum prodidisset, velut pro Vitellio conquerentes, 
suum dolorem proferebant. Nulla in oratione cujusquam 
erga Flavianos duces obtrectatio : errorem imprudentiamque 

30 exercituum culpantes, Vespasiani nomen suspensi et vita- 
bundi circumibant. Nee defuit, qui unum consulatus diem 
(is enim in locum Caecinae supererat) magno cum irrisu 
tribuentis accipientisque eblandiretur. Pridie Kalendas 
Novembris Rosius Regulus iniit ejuravitque. Annotabant 

35 periti nunquam antea, non abrogato magistratu neque lege 
lata, alium surTectum : nam consul uno die et ante fuerat 
Caninius Rebilus, C. Caesare dictatore, cum belli civilis 
praemia festinarentur. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XXXVIII, XXXIX. 141 

XXXVIII. Nota per eos dies Junii Blaesi mors et famosa 
fuit ; de qua sic accepimus. Gravi corporis morbo aeger 
Vitellius Servilianis hortis turrim vicino sitam collucere per 
noctem crebris luminibus animadvertit. Sciscitanti causam, 
apud Caecinam Tuscum epulari multos, praecipuum honore 5 
Junium Blaesum nuntiatur : cetera in majus de apparatu 
et solutis in lasciviam animis : nee defuere, qui ipsum Tus- 
cum et alios, sed criminosius Blaesum incusarent, quod, 
aegro principe, laetos dies ageret. Ubi asperatum Vitellium 

et posse Blaesum perverti satis patuit iis, qui principum 10 
offensas acriter speculantur, datae L. Vitellio delationis 
partes. Ille infensus Blaeso aemulatione prava, quod eum 
omni dedecore maculosum egregia fama anteibat, cubiculum 
imperatoris reserat, filium ejus sinu complexus et genibus 
accidens : causam confusionis quaerenti, "non se proprio 15 
metu nee sui anxium, sed pro fratre, pro liberis fratris 
preces lacrimasque attulisse. Frustra Yespasianum timeri, 
quern tot Germanicae legiones, tot provinciae virtute ac 
fide, tantum denique terrarum ac maris immensis spatiis 
arceat. In urbe ac sinu cavendum hostem, Junios Anto- 20 
niosque avos jac tan tern, qui se stirpe imperatoria, comem 
ac magnificum militibus ostentet. Versas illuc omnium 
mentes, dum Vitellius amicorum inimicorumque negligens 
fovet aemulum principis labores e convivio prospectantem. 
Reddendam pro intempestiva laetitia maestam et funebrem 25 
noctem, qua sciat et sentiat vivere Vitellium et imperare et, 
si quid fato accidat, filium habere.' ' 

XXXIX. Trepidanti inter scelus metumque, ne dilata 
Blaesi mors maturam perniciem, palam jussa atrocem in- 
vidiam ferret, placuit veneno grassari. Addidit facinori 30 
fidem nobili gaudio, Blaesum visendo : quin et audita est 
saevissima Vitellii vox, qua se (ipsa enim verba referam) pa- 
visse oculos spectata inimici morte jactavit. Blaeso, super 
claritatem natalium et elegantiam morum, fidei obstinatio 
fuit. Integris quoque rebus, a Caecina et primoribus partium 35 
jam Vitellium aspernantibus ambitus, abnuere perse veravit : 
sanctus, inturbidus, nullius repentini honoris, adeo non 
principatus appetens, parum effugerat, ne dignus crederetur. 



142 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

XL. Fabius interim Yalens, multo ac molli concubinarum 
spadonumque agmine segnius quam ad bellum incedens, 
proditam a Lucilio Basso Ravennatem classem pernicibus 
nuntiis accepit. Et si coeptum iter properasset, nutantem 
5 Caecinam praevenire aut ante discrimen pugnae assequi 
legiones potuisset. Nee deerant, qui monerent, ut cum 
fidissimis per occultos tramites, vitata Ravenna, Hostiliam 
Cremonamve pergeret. Aliis placebat accitis ex urbe 
praetoriis cohortibus valida manu perrumpere. Ipse, inu- 

10 tili cunctatione, agendi tempora consultando consumpsit: 
mox utrumque consilium aspernatus, quod inter ancipitia 
deterrimum est, dum media sequitur, nee ausus est satis 
nee providit. 

XLI. Missis ad Vitellium literis, auxilium postulat. Ve- 

15 nere tres cohortes cum ala Britannica, neque ad fallendum 
aptus numerus neque ad penetrandum. Sed Valens ne in 
tanto quidem discrimine infamia caruit, quo minus rapere 
illicitas voluptates, adulteriisque ac stupris polluere hospi- 
tum domus crederetur : aderant vis et pecunia et mentis 

20 fortunae novissima libido. Adventu demum peditum equi- 
tumque pravitas consilii patuit, quia nee vadere per hostes 
tarn parva manu poterat etiam si fidissima foret, nee inte- 
gram fidem attulerant. Pudor tamen et praesentis ducis 
reverentia morabatur, haud diuturna vincula apud avidos 

25 periculorum et dedecoris securos. Eo metu et paucis, quos 
adversa non mutaverant, comitantibus, cohortes Ariminum 
praemittit, alam tueri terga jubet : ipse flexit in Umbri- 
am atque inde Etruriam, ubi cognito pugnae Cremonensis 
eventu non ignavum et, si provenisset, atrox consilium iniit, 

30 ut arreptis navibus in quamcumque partem Narbonensis 
provinciae egressus, Gallias et exercitus et Germaniae gentes 
novumque bellum cieret. 

XLIL Digresso Yalente trepidos, qui Ariminum tene- 
bant, Cornelius Fuscus, admoto exercitu et missis per prox- 

35 ima littorum Liburnicis, terra marique circumvenit. Occu- 
pantur plana Umbriae et qua Picenus ager Adria alluitur ; 
omnisque Italia, inter Vespasianum ac Vitellium, Apennini 
jugis dividebatur. Fabius Yalens e sinu Pisano, segnitia 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XLIII, XLIV, XLV. 143 

maris aut adversante vento portum Herculis Monoeci de- 
pellitur : haud procul inde agebat Marius Maturus Alpium 
maritimarum procurator, fidus Vitellio, cujus sacramentum, 
cunctis circa hostilibus, nondum exuerat. Is Yalentem 
comiter exceptum, ne Galliam Narbonensem temere ingre- 5 
deretur, monendo terruit : simul ceterorum fides metu in- 
fracta : namque circumjectas civitates procurator Valerius 
Paulinus, strenuus militiae et Yespasiano ante fortunam 
amicus, in verba ejus adegerat. 

XLIII. Concitisque omnibus, qui exauctorati a Vitellio 10 
bellum sponte sumebant, Forojuliensem coloniam, claustra 
maris, praesidio tuebatur, eo gravior auctor, quod Paulino 
patria Forum Julii et honos apud praetorianos, quorum 
quondam tribunus fuerat. Ipsique pagani favore municipali 
et futurae potentiae spe juvare partes annitebantur : quae 15 
ubi paratu firma et aucta rumore apud varios Vitellianorum 
animos increbruere, Fabius Valens cum quatuor speculato- 
ribus et tribus amicis, totidem centurionibus ad naves re- 
greditur ; Maturo ceterisque remanere et in verba Vespasi- 
ani adigi volentibus fuit. Ceterum ut mare tutius Valenti 20 
quam littora aut urbes, ita futuri ambiguus et magis quid 
vitaret quam cui fideret certus, ad versa tempestate Stoe- 
chadas Massiliensium insulas affertur : ibi eum missae a 
Paulino Liburnicae oppressere. 

XLIV. Cap to Valente cuncta ad victoris opes conversa, 25 
initio per Hispaniam a prima Adjutrice legione orto, quae 
memoria Othonis infensa Vitellio decimam quoque ac sex- 
tain traxit. Nee G-alliae cunctabantur. Et Britanniam 
inditus erga Vespasianum favor, quod illic secundae legioni 
a Claudio praepositus et bello clarus egerat, non sine motu 30 
adjunxit ceterarum, in quibus plerique centuriones ac milites 
a Vitellio provecti expertum jam principem anxii mutabant. 

XLV. Ea discordia et crebris belli civilis rumoribus Bri- 
tanni sustulere animos auctore Venutio, qui super insitam 
ferociam et Romani nominis odium propriis in Cartismandu- 35 
am reginam stimulis accendebatur. Cartismandua Briganti- 
bus imperitabat, pollens nobilitate ; et auxerat potentiam, 
postquam capto per dolum rege Caractaco, instruxisse tri- 



144 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

umphum Claudii Caesaris videbatur. Inde opes et rerum 
secundarum luxus : spreto Venutio (is fuit maritus) armi- 
gerum ejus Vellocatum, in matrimonium regnumque ac- 
cepit. Concussa statim flagitio domus. Pro marito studia 
5 civitatis ; pro adultero libido reginae et saevitia. Igitur 
Venutius accitis auxiliis, simul ipsorum Brigantum defec- 
tione, in extremum discrimen Cartismanduam adduxit. 
Turn petita a Romanis praesidia : et cohortes alaeque nos- 
trae, variis proeliis, exemere tamen periculo reginam. Reg- 

10 num Venutio, bellum nobis relictum. 

XLYI. Turbata per eosdem dies Germania et socordia 
ducum et seditione legionum. Externa vi, perfidia sociali 
prope afflicta Romana res. Id bellum cum causis et eventi- 
bus (etenim longius provectum est) mox memorabimus. 

15 Mota et Dacorum gens nunquam fida, tunc sine metu ab- 
ducto e Moesia exercitu. Sed prima rerum quieti specula- 
bantur : ubi flagrare Italiam bello, cuncta invicem hostilia 
accepere, expugnatis cohortium alarumque hibernis utraque 
Danubii ripa potiebantur. Jamque castra legionum exscin- 

20 dere parabant, ni Mucianus sextam legionem opposuisset, 
Cremonensis victoriae gnarus, ac ne externa moles utrimque 
ingrueret, si Dacus Germanusque diversi irrupissent. Affuit, 
ut saepe alias, fortuna populi Romani, quae Mucianum vi- 
resque Orientis illuc tulit, et quod Cremonae interim transe- 

25 gimus. Fonteius Agrippa ex Asia (pro consule earn pro- 
vinciam annuo imperio tenuerat) Moesiae praepositus est, 
additis copiis e Vitelliano exercitu, quern spargi per 
provincias et externo bello illigari pars consilii pacisque 
erat. 

30 XL VII. Nee ceterae nationes silebant. Subita per Pon- 
tum arma barbarum mancipium, regiae quondam classis 
praefectus, moverat : is fuit Anicetus Polemonis libertus, 
praepotens olim, et postquam regnum in formam provinciae 
verterat, mutationis impatiens. Igitur Vitellii nomine asci- 

35 tis gentibus quae Pontum accolunt, corrupto in spem rapi- 
narum egentissimo quoque, haud temnendae manus ductor, 
Trapezuntem, vetusta fama civitatem a Graecis in extremo 
Ponticae orae conditam, subitus irrupit. Caesa ibi cohors, 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. XL VIII, XLIX. 145 

regium auxilium olira, mox donati civitate Romana, signa 
armaque in nostrum modum, desidiam licentiamque Grae- 
corum retinebant. Classi quoque faces intulit, vacuo mari 
eludens, quia lectissimas Liburnicarum omnemque militem 
Mucianus Byzantium adegerat. Quin et barbari contemptim 5 
vagabantur, fabricatis repente navibus ; camaras vocant, 
arctis lateribus latam alvum sine vinculo aeris aut ferri con- 
nexam ; et tumido mari, prout fluctus attollitur, summa 
navium tabulis augent, donee in modum tecti claudantur. 
Sic inter undas volvuntur, pari utrimque prora et mutabili 10 
remigio, quando hinc vel illinc appellere indiscretum et in- 
noxium est. 

XL VIII. Advertit ea res Vespasiani animum, ut vexil- 
larios e legionibus ducemque Virdium Geminum, spectatae 
militiae, deligeret. Ille incompositum et praedae cupidine 15 
vagum hostem adortus, coegit in naves ; effectisque raptim 
Liburnicis assequitur Anicetum in ostio fluminis Cobibi, tu- 
tum sub Sedochezorum regis auxilio, quern pecunia donis- 
que ad societatem perpulerat. Ac piimo rex minis armis- 
que supplicem tueri : postquam merces proditionis aut bel- 20 
lum ostendebatur, fluxa, ut est barbaris, fide pactus Aniceti 
exitium, perfugas tradidit belloque servili finis impositus. 
Laetum ea victoria Vespasianum, cunctis super vota fiuenti- 
bus, Cremonensis proelii nuntius in Aegypto assequitur. 
Eo properantius Alexandriam pergit, ut, fracto Vitellii ex- 25 
ercitu, urbem quoque externae opis indigam fame urgeret. 
Namque et Africam eodem latere sitam terra marique inva- 
dere parabat, clausis annonae subsidiis inopiam ac discordi- 
am hosti facturus. 

XLIX. Dum hac totius orbis nutatione fortuna imperii 30 
transit, Primus Antonius nequaquam pari innocentia post 
Cremonam agebat, satisfactum bello ratus et cetera ex facili, 
seu felicitas in tali ingenio avaritiam, superbiam ceteraque 
occulta mala patefecit : ut captam, Italiam persultare ; ut 
suas, legiones colere ; omnibus dictis factisque viam sibi ad 35 
potentiam struere ; utque licentia militem imbueret, inter- 
fectorum centurionum ordines legionibus offerebat : eo suf- 
fragio turbidissimus quisque delecti ; nee miles in arbitrio 

13 



146 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

ducum, sed duces militari violentia trahebantur. Quae 
seditiosa et corrumpendae disciplinae mox in praedam verte- 
bat, nihil adventantem Mucianum veritus, quod exitiosius 
erat quam Yespasianum sprevisse. 
5 L. Ceterum propinqua hieme et humentibus Pado campis, 
expeditum agmen incedere. Signa aquilaeque victricium 
legionum, milites vulneribus aut aetate graves, plerique 
etiam integri, Yeronae relicti : sufficere cohortes alaeque et 
e legionibus lecti, profligato jam bello, videbantur. Unde- 

10 cima legio sese adjunxerat, initio cunctata, sed prosperis 
rebus anxia, quod defuisset. Sex millia Dalmatarum, recens 
delectus, comitabantur. Ducebat Pompeius Silvanus con- 
sularis : vis consiliorum penes Annium Bassum legionis 
legatum : is Silvanum, socordem bello et dies rerum verbis 

15 terentem, specie obsequii regebat, ad omniaque, quae agenda 
forent, quiet a cum industria aderat. Ad has copias e clas- 
sicis Ravennatibus legionariam militiam poscentibus optimus 
quisque asciti : classem Dalmatae supplevere. Exercitus 
ducesque ad Fanum Fortunae iter sistunt de summa rerum 

20 cunctantes, quod motas ex urbe praetorias cohortes audie- 
rant, et teneri praesidiis Apenninum rebantur : et ipsos in 
regione bello attrita inopia et seditiosae militum voces ter- 
rebant, clavarium (donativi nomen est) flagitantium : nee 
pecuniam aut frumentum providerant ; et festinatio at- 

25 que aviditas praepediebant, dum quae accipi poterant rapi- 
untur. 

LI. Celeberrimos auctores habeo tantam victoribus ad- 
versus fas nefasque irreverentiam fuisse, ut gregarius eques 
occisum a se proxima acie fratrem professus, praemium a 

30 ducibus petierit. Nee illis aut honorare earn caedem jus 
hominum aut ulcisci ratio belli permittebat. Distulerant 
tanquam majora meritum quam quae statim exsolverentur ; 
nee quicquam ultra traditur. Ceterum et prioribus civium 
bellis par scelus inciderat ; nam proelio, quo apud Janicu- 

35 lum adversus Cinnam pugnatum est, Pompeianus miles 
fratrem suum, dein cognito facinore seipsum interfecit, ut 
Sisenna memorat : tan to acrior apud majores, sicut virtuti- 
bus gloria, ita flagitiis poenitentia fuit. Sed haec aliaque 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LII, LIII. 14? 

ex veteri memoria petita, quotiens res locusque exempla 
recti aut solatia mali poscet, haud absurde memorabimus. 

LII. Antonio ducibusque partium praemitti equites om- 
nemque Umbriam explorari placuit, si qua Apennini juga 
clementius adirentur ; acciri aquilas signaque et quicquid 5 
Yeronae militum foret, Padumque et mare commeatibus 
compleri. Erant inter duces, qui necterent moras : quippe 
nimius jam Antonius, et certiora ex Muciano sperabantur. 
Namque Mucianus tarn celeri victoria anxius et, ni praesens 
urbe potiretur, expertem se belli gloriaeque ratus, ad Pri- 10 
mum et Varum media scrip titabat, instandum coeptis aut 
rursus cunctandi utilitates edisserens, atque ita compositus 
ut ex eventu rerum ad versa abnueret vel prospera agno- 
sceret. Plotium Griphum nuper ab Vespasiano in senato- 
riiun ordinem additum ac legioni praepositum ceterosque 15 
sibi fidos apertius monuit : hique omnes de festinatione 
Primi ac Vari sinistre, et Muciano volentia rescripsere. 
Quibus epistolis Vespasiano missis effecerat, ut non pro spe 
Antonii consilia factaque ejus aestimarentur. 

LIII. Aegre id pati Antonius, et culpam in Mucianum 20 
conferre, cujus criminationibus eviluissent pericula sua : 
nee sermonibus temperabat, immodicus lingua et obsequii 
insolens : literas ad Vespasianum composuit jactantius quam 
ad principem, nee sine occulta in Mucianum insectatione : 
* se Pannonicas legiones in arma egisse ; suis stimulis exci- 25 
tos Moesiae duces, sua constantia perruptas Alpes, occupa- 
tam Italiam, intersepta Germanorum Raetorumque auxilia. 
Quod discordes dispersasque Vitellii legiones equestri pro- 
cella, mox peditum vi per diem noctemque fudisset, id pul- 
cnerrimum et sui operis. Casum Cremonae bello imputan- 30 
dum : majore damno, plurium urbium excidiis veteres civi- 
um discordias reipublicae stetisse. Non se nuntiis neque 
epistolis, sed manu et armis imperatori suo militare : neque 
officere gloriae eorum, qui Asiam interim composuerint : 
illis Moesiae pacem, sibi salutem securitatemque Italiae 35 
cordi fuisse. Suis exhortationibus Gallias Hispaniasque, 
validissimam terrarum partem, ad Vespasianum conversas. 
Sed cecidisse in irritum labores, si praemia periculorum soli 



148 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

assequantur, qui periculis non affuerint." Nee fefellere ea 
Mucianum : inde graves simultates, quas Antonius siinpli- 
cius, Mucianus callide eoque implacabilius nutriebat. 

LIV. At Vitellius, fractis apud Cremonam rebus, nun- 
5 tios cladis occultans, stulta dissimulatione remedia potius 
malorum quam mala differebat. Quippe confitenti con- 
sultantique supererant spes viresque : cum e contrario laeta 
omnia fingeret, falsis ingravescebat. Mirum apud ipsum de 
bello silentium : prohibiti per civitatem sermones eoque 

10 plures, ac, si liceret, vere narraturi, quia vetabantur, atro- 
ciora vulgaverant. Nee duces hostium augendae famae 
deerant, captos Vitellii exploratores circumductosque, ut 
robora victoris exercitus noscerent, remittendo ; quos omnes 
Vitellius secreto percunctatus interfici jussit. Notabili con- 

15 stantia centurio Julius Agrestis, post multos sermones qui- 
bus Vitellium ad virtutem frustra accendebat, perpulit, ut 
ad vires hostium spectandas quaeque apud Cremonam acta 
forent ipse mitteretur. Nee exploratione occulta fallere 
Antonium tentavit, sed mandata imperatoris suumque ani- 

20 mum professus, ut cuncta viseret, postulat. Missi, qui 
locum proelii, Cremonae vestigia, captas legiones ostende- 
rent. Agrestis ad Vitellium remeavit, abnuentique vera 
esse quae afferret, atque ultro corruptum arguenti, " quando- 
quidem,' , inquit, " magno documento opus est, nee alius jam 

25 tibi aut vitae aut mortis meae usus, dabc cui credas :" atque 
ita digressus voluntaria morte dicta firmavit. Quidam jus- 
su Vitellii interfectum ; de fide constantiaque eadem tradi- 
dere. 

LV. Vitellius, ut e somno excitus, Julium Priscum et 

30 Alfenum Varum cum quatuordecim praetoriis eohortibus et 
omnibus equitum alis obsidere Apenninum jubet. Secuta 
e classicis legio. Tot millia armatorum lecta equis virisque, 
si dux alius foret, inferendo quoque bello satis pollebant. 
Ceterae cohortes ad tuendam urbem L. Vitellio fratri datae. 

35 Ipse nihil e solito luxu remittens et diffidentia properus 
festinare comitia, quibus consules in multos annos destina- 
bat ; foedera sociis, Latium externis dilargiri ; his tributa 
dimittere, alios imraunitatibus juvare ; denique nulla in 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LVI, LVII. 149 

posterura crura lacerare imperium. Sed vulgus ad mag- 
nitudinem beneficiorum aderat ; stultissimus quisque pe- 
cuniis mercabatur ; apud sapientes cassa habebantur, quae 
neque dari neque accipi salva republica poterant. Tandem 
flagitante exercitu qui Mevaniam insederat, magno sena- 5 
torum agmine, quorum multos ambitione, plures formidine 
trahebat, in castra venit, incertus animi et infidis consiliis 
obnoxius. 

LVI. Concionanti (prodigiosum dictu) tantum foedarum 
volucrum supervolitavit, ut nube atra diem obtenderent. 10 
Accessit dirum omen, profugus altaribus taurus, disjecto 
sacrificii apparatu, longe nee ubi feriri bostias mos est con- 
fossus. Sed praecipuum ipse Vitellius ostentum erat, ig- 
narus militiae, improvidus consilii, quis ordo agminis, quae 
cura explorandi, quantus urgendo trabendove bello modus, 15 
alios rogitans, et ad omnes nuntios, vultu quoque et incessu 
trepidus, dein temulentus. Postremo taedio castrorum, et 
audita defectione Misenensis classis, Romam revertit, recen- 
tissimum quodque vulnus pavens, summi discriminis incuri- 
osus. Nam cum transgredi Apenninum integro exercitus 20 
sui robore et fessos hieme atque inopia bostes aggredi in 
aperto foret, dum dispergit vires, acerrimum militem et 
usque in extrema obstinatum trucidandum capiendumque 
tradidit, peritissimis centurionum dissentientibus et, si con- 
sulerentur, vera dicturis. Arcuere eos intimi amicorum Yi- 25 
tellii, ita formatis principis auribus, ut aspera quae utilia, 
nee quicquam nisi jucundum et laesurum acciperet. 

LVII. Sed classem Misenensem (tantum civilibus dis- 
cordiis etiam singulorum audacia valet) Claudius Faven- 
tinus centurio per ignominiam a Galba dimissus ad defec- 30 
tionem traxit, fictis Vespasiani epistolis pretium proditionis 
ostentans. Praeerat classi Claudius Apollinaris, neque fidei 
constans neque strenuus in perfidia : et Apinius Tiro prae- 
tura functus ac turn forte Minturnis agens ducem se defec- 
toribus obtulit : a quibus municipia coloniaeque impulsae, 35 
praecipuo Puteolanorum in Vespasianum studio, contra 
Capua Vitellio fida, municipalem aemulationem bellis civili- 
bus miscebant. Vitellius Claudium Julianum (is nuper 

13* 



150 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

classem Misenensem molli imperio rexerat) permulcendis 
militum animis delegit : data in auxilium urbana cohors et 
gladiatores, quibus Julianus praeerat. Ut collata utrimque 
castra, haud magna cunctatione Juliano in partes Vespasiani 
5 transgresso Tarracinam occupavere, moenibus situque ma- 
gis quam ipsorum ingenio tutam. 

LVIII. Quae ubi Yitellio cognita, parte copiarum Nar- 
niae cum praefectis praetorii relicta, L. Vitellium fratrem 
cum sex cohortibus et quingentis equitibus ingruenti per 

10 Campaniam bello opposuit. Ipse aeger animi studiis mil- 
itum et clamoribus populi arma poscentis refovebatur, 
dum vulgus ignavum et nihil ultra verba ausurum falsa 
specie exercitum et legiones appellat. Hortantibus libertis 
(nam amicorum ejus quanto quis clarior, minus fidus) vo- 

15 cari tribus jubet. Dantes nomina sacramento adigit : su- 
perfluente multitudine curam delectus in consules partitur. 
Servorum numerum et pondus argenti senatoribus indicit. 
Equites Romani obtulere operam pecuniasque, etiam liber- 
ties idem munus ultro flagitantibus. Ea simulatio officii a 

20 metu profecta verterat in favorem ; ac plerique haud pe- 
rinde VitelHum quam casum locumque principatus misera- 
bantur : nee deerat ipse vultu, voce, lacrimis misericordiam 
elicere, largus promissis, et quae natura trepidantium est, 
immodicus. Quin et Caesarem se dici voluit, aspernatus 

25 antea, sed tunc superstitione nominis, et quia in metu con- 
silia prudentium et vulgi rumor juxta audiuntur. Ceterum 
ut omnia inconsulti impetus coepta, initiis valida, spatio 
languescunt, dilabi paulatim senatores equitesque primo 
cunctanter et ubi ipse non aderat, mox contemptim et sine 

30 discrimine, donee Vitellius pudore irriti conatus, quae non 
dabantur, remisit. 

LIX. Ut terrorem Italiae possessa Mevania ac velut re- 
natum ex integro bellum intulerat, ita haud dubium erga 
Flavianas partes studium tarn pavidus Vitellii discessus ad- 

35 didit. Erectus Samnis Pelignusque et Marsi aemulatione, 
quod Campania praevenisset, ut in novo obsequio, ad cuncta 
belli munia acres erant. Sed foeda hieme per transitum 
Apennini conflictatus exercitus, et vix quieto agmine nives 



A. C, 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LX, LXI. 151 

eluctantibus patuit, quantum discriminis adeundum foret, ni 
Vitellium retro fortuna vertisset, quae Flavianis ducibus 
non minus saepe quam ratio affuit Obvium illic Petilium 
Cerialem habuere, agresti cultu et notitia locorum custodias 
Vitellii elapsum. Propinqua affinitas Ceriali cum Vespasi- 5 
ano, nee ipse inglorius militiae, eoque inter duces assumptus 
est. Flavio quoque Sabino ac Domitiano patuisse effugium 
multi tradidere. Et missi ab Antonio nuntii per varias fal- 
lendi artes penetrabant, locum ac praesidium monstrantes. 
Sabinus inhabilem labori et audaciae valetudinem causaba- 10 
tur : Domitiano aderat animus ; sed custodes a Yitellio ad- 
diti, quanquam se socios fugae promitterent, tanquam in- 
sidiantes timebantur. Atque ipse Yitellius, respectu suarum 
necessitudinum, nihil in Domitianum atrox parabat. 

LX. Duces partium ut Carsulas venere, paucos ad re- 15 
quiem dies sumunt, donee aquilae signaque legionum asse- 
querentur ; et locus ipse castrorum placebat, late prospec- 
tans, tuto copiarum aggestu, florentissimis pone tergum 
municipiis : simul colloquia cum Vitellianis decern millium 
spatio distantibus et proditio sperabatur. Aegre id pati 20 
miles, et victoriam malle quam pacem : ne suas quidem 
legiones opperiebantur, ut praedae quam periculorum so- 
cias. Vocatos ad concionem Antonius docuit " esse adhuc 
Vitellio vires, ambiguas, si deliberarent ; acres, si desperas- 
sent. Initia bellorum civilium fortunae permittenda ; vie- 25 
toriam consiliis et ratione perfici. Jam Misenensem classem 
et pulcherrimam Campaniae oram descivisse : nee plus e 
toto terrarum orbe reliquum Yitellio, quam quod inter Tar- 
racinam Narniamque jaceat. Satis gloriae proelio Cremo- 
nensi partum, et exitio Cremonae nimium invidiae ; nee 30 
concupiscerent Romam capere potius quam servare : majora 
ill is praemia et multo maximum decus, si incolumitatem 
senatui populoque Romano sine sanguine quaesissent." 

LXI. His ac talibus mitigati animi : nee multo post legi- 
ones venere. Et terrore famaque aucti exercitus Vitellianae 35 
eohortes nutabant, nullo in bellum adhortante, multis ad 
transitionem, qui suas centurias turmasque tradere, donum 
victori et sibi in posterum gratiam, certabant. Per eos 



152 C. CORK. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

cognitum est, Interamnam proximis campis praesidio quad- 
ringentorum equitum teneri. Missus extemplo Varus cum 
expedita manu paucos repugnantium interfecit : plures ab- 
jectis armis veniam petivere : quidam in castra refugi cuncta 
5 formidine implebant, augendo rumoribus virtutem copias- 
que hostium, quo amissi praesidii dedecus lenirent. Nee 
ulla apud Yitellianos flagitii poena, et praemiis defectorum 
versa fides, ac reliquum perfidiae certamen : crebra trans- 
fugia tribunorum centurionumque ; nam gregarius miles 

10 induruerat pro Vitellio, donee Priscus et Alfenus desertis 
castris ad Vitellium regressi, pudore proditionis cunctos ex- 
solverent. 

LXIL Iisdem diebus Fabius Valens Urbini in custodia 
interficitur. Caput ejus Vitellianis cohortibus ostentatum, 

15 ne quam ultra spem foverent : nam pervasisse in Germanias 
Valentem et veteres illic novosque exercitus ciere crede- 
bant. Visa caede in desperationem versi; et Flavianus 
exercitus immane quantum animo exitium Valentis ut finem 
belli accepit. Natus erat Valens Anagniae, equestri fa- 

20 milia : procax moribus, neque absurdus ingenio, famam 
urbanitatis per lasciviam petere. Ludicro juvenum sub 
Nerone, velut ex necessitate, mox sponte mimos actitavit, 
scite magis quam probe. Legatus legionis et fovit Virgini- 
um et infamavit. Fonteium Capitonem corruptum, seu quia 

25 corrumpere nequiverat, interfecit. Galbae proditor, Vitellio 
fidus et aliorum perfidia illustratus. 

LXIII. Abrupta undique spe, Vitellianus miles transi- 
turus in partes, id quoque non sine decore, sed sub signis 
vexillisque in subjectos Narniae campos descendere. Fla- 

30 vianus exercitus, ut ad proelium intentus ornatusque, densis 
circa viam ordinibus adstiterat. Accepti in medium Vitel- 
liani, et circumdatos Primus Antonius clementer alloquitur : 
pars Narniae, pars Interamnae subsistere jussi : relictae 
simul e victricibus legiones, neque quiescentibus graves, et 

35 adversus contumaciam validae. Non omisere per eos dies 
Primus ac Varus crebris nuntiis salutem et pecuniam et se- 
creta Campaniae ofFerre Vitellio, si positis armis seque ac libe ■• 
ros suos Vespasiano permisisset. In eundem modum et Mu- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LXIV, LXV, LXVI. 153 

cianus composuit epis tolas ; quibus plerumque fidere Yitel- 
lius ac de numero servorum, electione littorum loqui. Tanta 
torpedo invaserat animum, ut, si principem eum fuisse ce- 
teri non meminissent, ipse oblivisceretur. 

LXIY. At primores civitatis Flavium Sabinum praefec- 5 
turn urbis secretis sermonibus incitabant, " victoriae famae- 
que partem capesseret : esse illi proprium militem cohortium 
urbanarum, nee defuturas vigilum cohortes, servitia ipso- 
rum, fortunam partium et omnia prona victoribus. Ne An- 
tonio Varoque de gloria concederet. Paucas Yitellio co- 10 
hortes, et maestis undique nuntiis trepidas : populi mobilem 
animum : et si due em se praebuisset, easdem illas adula- 
tiones pro Yespasiano fore. Ipsum Yitellium ne prosperis 
quidem parem : adeo ruentibus debilitatum. Gratiam pa- 
trati belli penes eum, qui urbem occupasset. Id Sabino 15 
convenire, ut imperium fratri reservaret ; id Yespasiano, ut 
ceteri post Sabinum haberentur." 

LXY. Haudquaquam erecto animo eas voces accipiebat, 
invalidus senecta. Erant, qui occultis suspicionibus inces- 
serent, tanquam invidia et aemulatione fortunam fratris 20 
moraretur. Namque Flatus Sabinus aetate prior, privatis 
utriusque rebus auctoritate pecuniaque Yespasianum antei- 
bat, et credebatur affectam ejus fidem praejuvisse, domo 
agrisque pignori acceptis. Unde quanquam manente in 
speciem concordia, offensarum operta metuebantur. Me- 25 
lior interpretatio, mitem wura abhorrere a sanguine et cae- 
dibus, eoque crebris cum Yitellio sermonibus de pace po- 
nendisque per conditionem armis agitare. Saepe domi 
congressi, postremo in aede Apollinis, ut fama fuit, pepi- 
gere. Yerba vocesque duos testes habebant, Cluvium Ru- 30 
fum et Silium Italicum. Yultus procul visentibus notaban- 
tur, Yitellii projectus et degener, Sabinus non insultans et 
miseranti propior. 

LXYI. Quod si tarn facile suorum mentes flexisset Yitel- 
lius quam ipse cesserat, incruentam Urbem Yespasiani ex- 35 
ercitus intrasset. Ceterum ut quisque Yitellio fidus, ita 
pacem et conditiones abnuebant, discrimen ac dedecus os- 
tentantes, " et fidem in libidine victoris. Nee tantam Yes- 



154 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

pasiano superbiam, ut privatum Yitellium pateretur : ne 
victos quidem laturos. Ita periculum ex misericordia. 
Ipsum sane senem, et prosperis adversisque satiatum. Sed 
quod nomen, quern statum filio ejus Germanico fore ? Nunc 

5 pecuniam et familiam et beatos Campaniae sinus promitti : 
sed ubi imperium Yespasianus invaserit, non ipsi, non amicis 
ejus, non denique exercitibus securitatem, nisi exstincto 
aemulatore, redituram. Fabium illis Yalentem, captivum 
et casibus dubiis reservatum, praegravem fuisse : nedum 

10 Primus ac Fuscus et specimem partium Mucianus ullam in 
Yitellium nisi occidendi licentiam habeant. Non a Caesare 
Pompeium, non ab Augusto Antonium incolumes relictos : 
nisi forte Yespasianus altiores spiritus gerat, Yitellii cliens, 
cum Yitellius collega Claudio foret. Quin ut censuram 

15 patris, ut tres consulatus, ut tot egregiae domus honores 
deceret, desperatione saltern in audaciam accingeretur : 
perstare militem, superesse studia populi. Denique nihil 
atrocius eventurum quam in quod sponte ruant : morien- 
dum victis, moriendum deditis : id solum referre, novissi- 

20 mum spiritum per ludibrium et contumelias effundant an 
per virtu tern." 

LXYII. Surdae ad fortia consilia Yitellio aures. Obrue- 
batur animus miseratione curaque, ne pertinacibus armis 
minus placabilem victorem relinqueret conjugi ac liberis. 

25 Erat illi et fessa aetate parens, quae tamen paucis ante die- 
bus opportuna morte excidium domus praevenit, nihil prin- 
cipatu filii assecuta nisi luctum et bonam famam. Quin- 
todecimo Kalendas Januarii audita defectione legionis co- 
hortiumque, quae se Narniae dediderant, pullo amictu 

30 palatio degreditur, maesta circum familia. Simul ferebatur 
lecticula parvulus films, velut in funebrem pompam. Yoces 
populi blandae et intempestivae : miles minaci silentio. 

LXYIII. Nee quisquam adeo rerum humanarum imme- 
mor, quern non commoveret ilia facies, Romanum principem 

35 et generis humani paulo ante dominum, relicta fortunae 
suae sede, per populum, per urbem exire de imperio. Nihil 
tale viderant, nihil audierant. Repentina vis dictatorem 
Caesarem oppresserat, occultae Caium insidiae ; nox et ig- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LXIX. 155 

notum rus fugam Neronis absconderant ; Piso et Galba 
tanquam in acie cecidere : in sua concione Yitellius, inter 
suos milites, prospectantibus etiam feminis, pauca et prae- 
senti maestitiae congruentia locutus : " Cedere se pacis et rei- 
publicae causa : retinerent tantum memoriam sui, fratremque 5 
et conjugem et innoxiam liberorum aetatem miserarentur :" 
simul filium protendens, modo singulis, modo universis com- 
mendans, prostremo fletu praepediente, assistenti consuli 
(Caecilius Simplex erat) exsolutum a latere pugionem, velut 
jus necis vitaeque civium, reddebat. Aspernante consule, 10 
reclamantibus qui in concione adstiterant, ut in aede Con- 
cordiae positurus insignia imperii domumque fratris peti- 
turus discessit. Major hie clamor obsistentium penatibus 
privatis, in palatium Tocantium. Interelusum aliud iter, 
idque solum quod in Sacram viam pergeret patebat : turn 15 
consilii inops in palatium rediit. Praevenerat rumor ejurari 
ab eo imperium, scripseratque Flavius Sabinus cohortium 
tribunis, ut militem eohiberent. 

LXIX. Igitur, tanquam omnis respublica in Yespasiani 
sinum cessisset, primores senatus et plerique equestris ordi- 20 
nis omnisque miles urbanus et vigiles domum Flavii Sabini 
complevere : illuc de studiis vulgi et minis Germanicarum 
cohortium afFertur. Longius jam progressus erat quam ut 
regredi posset ; et suo quisque metu, ne disjectos eoque 
minus validos Vitelliani consectarentur, cunctantem in arma 25 
impellebant. Sed quod in ejusmodi rebus accidit, consili- 
um ab omnibus datum est, periculum pauci sumpsere. 
Circa lacum Fundani descendentibus, qui Sabinum comita- 
bantur, armatis occurrunt promptissimi Vitellianorum. 
Modicum ibi proelium improviso tumultu, sed prosperum 30 
Vitellianis fuit. Sabinus re trepida, quod tutissimum e prae- 
sentibus, arcem capitolii insedit milite mixto et quibusdam 
senatorum equitumque, quorum nomina tradere haud promp- 
tum est, quoniam, victore Yespasiano, multi id meritum erga 
partes simulavere. Subierunt obsidium etiam feminae, inter 35 
quas maxime insignis Verulana Gratilla, neque liberos ne- 
que propinquos, sed bellum secuta. Yitellianus miles so- 
cordi custodia clausos circumdedit ; eoque concubia nocte 



156 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

suos liberos Sabinus et Domitianum fratris filium in capito- 
lium accivit, misso per neglecta ad Flavianos duces nuntio, 
qui circumsideri ipsos et, ni subveniretur, arctas res nuntia- 
ret. Noctem adeo quietam egit, ut digredi sine noxa po- 
5 tuerit : quippe miles Vitellii ad versus pericula ferox, labo- 
ribus et vigiliis parum intentus erat, et hibernus imber 
repente fusus oculos auresque impediebat. 

LXX. Luce prima Sabinus, antequam invicem hostilia 
coeptarent, Cornelium Martialem e primipilaribus ad Vitel- 

10 Hum misit cum mandatis et questu quod pacta turbarentur. 
" Simulationem prorsus et imaginem deponendi imperii 
fuisse, ad decipiendos tot illustres viros. Cur enim e ros- 
tris fratris domum, imminentem foro et irritandis hominum 
oculis, quam Aventinum et penates uxoris petisset ? Ita 

15 privato et omnem principatus speciem vitanti convenisse. 
Contra Vitellium in palatium, in ipsam imperii arcem re- 
gressum ; inde armatum agmen emissum ; stratam inno- 
centium caedibus celeberrimam urbis partem ; ne capitolio 
quidem abstineri. Togatum nempe se et unum e senatori- 

20 bus, dum inter Vespasianum ac Vitellium proeliis legionum, 
captivitatibus urbium, deditionibus cohortium judicatur ; 
jam Hispaniis Germaniisque et Britannia desciscentibus 
fratrem Vespasiani mansisse in fide, donee ultro ad con- 
ditiones vocaretur. Pacem et concordiam victis utilia, 

25 victoribus tantum pulchra esse. Si conventionis poeniteat, 
non se, quern perfidia deceperit, ferro peteret, non filium 
Vespasiani vix puberem. Quantum occisis uno sene et uno 
juvene profici ? iret obviam legionibus, et de summa rerum 
illic certaret : cetera secundum eventum proelii cessura.' , 

30 Trepidus ad haec Vitellius pauca purgandi sui causa re- 
spondit, culpam in militem conferens, cujus nimio ardori 
imparem esse modestiam suam. Et monuit Martialem ut 
per secretam aedium partem occulte abiret, ne a militibus 
internuntius invisae pacis interficeretur : ipse neque jubendi 

35 neque vetandi potens, non jam imperator, sed tantum belli 
causa erat. 

LXXI. Vix dum regresso in Capitolium Martiale, furens 
miles aderat, nullo duce, sibi quisque auctor : cito agmine 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LXXII. 157 

forum et imminentia foro templa praetervecti erigunt aciem 
per adversum collem usque ad primas Capitolinae arcis 
fores. Erant antiquitus porticus in latere clivi, dextrae 
subeuntibus; in quarum tectum egressi saxis tegulisque 
Vitellianos obruebant. ISTeque illis manus nisi gladiis arma- 5 
tae ; et arcessere tormenta aut missilia tela longum vide- 
batur. Faces in prominentem porticum jecere ; et seque- 
bantur ignem, ambustasque Capitolii fores penetrassent, ni 
Sabinus revulsas undique statuas, decora majorum, in ipso 
aditu vice muri objecisset. Turn diversos Capitolii aditus 10 
invadunt, juxta lucum asyli, et qua Tarpeia rupes centum 
gradibus aditur. Improvisa utraque vis; propior atque 
acrior per asylum ingruebat : nee sisti poterant scandentes 
per conjuncta aedificia, quae, ut in multa pace, in altum 
edita solum capitolii aequabant. Hie ambigitur, ignem 15 
tectis oppugnatores injecerint an obsessi, quae crebrior 
fama, nitentes ac progressos depulerint. Inde lapsus ignis 
in porticus appositas aedibus : mox sustinentes fastigium 
aquilae vetere ligno traxerunt flammam alueruntque. Sic 
Capitolium, clausis foribus, indefensum et indireptum con- 20 
flagravit. 

LXXII. Id facinus post conditam urbem luctuosissimum 
foedissimumque reipublicae populi Romani accidit nullo ex- 
terno hoste, propitiis, si per mores nostros liceret, deis, 
sedem Jovis Optimi Maximi auspicato a majoribus pignus 25 
imperii conditam, quam non Porsena dedita urbe, neque 
Galli capta, temerare potuissent, furore principum exscindi ! 
Arserat et ante Capitolium civili bello, sed fraude privata ; 
nunc palam obsessum, palam incensum : quibus armorum 
causis ? quo tantae cladis pretio stetit ? pro patria bellavi- 30 
mus ? Voverat Tarquinkis Priscus rex bello Sabino, jece- 
ratque fund amenta spe magis futurae magnitudinis, quam 
quo modicae adhuc populi Romani res sufficerent. Mox 
Servius Tullius sociorum studio, dein Tarquinius Superbus 
capta Suessa Pometia hostium spoliis exstruxere. Sed 35 
gloria operis libertati reservata : pulsis regibus, Horatius 
Pulvillus iterum consul dedicavit, ea magnificentia, quam 
immensae postea populi Romani opes ornarent potius, quam 

14 



158 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

augerent. Iisdem rursus vestigiis situm est, postquam in- 
terject o quadringentorum viginti quinque annorum spatio, 
L. Scipione, C. Norbano consulibus, flagraverat. Curam 
victor Sulla suscepit, neque tamen dedicavit : hoc solum 
5 felicitati ejus negatum. Lutatii Catuli nomen inter tot 
Caesarum opera usque ad Vitellium mansit. Ea tunc aedes 
cremabatur. 

LXXIII. Sed plus pavoris obsessis quam obsessoribus 
intulit. Quippe Yitellianus miles neque astu neque con- 

10 stantia inter dubia indigebat. Ex diverso trepidi milites, 
dux segnis et velut captus animi, non lingua, non auribus 
competere ; neque alienis consiliis regi, neque sua expedire ; 
hue illuc clamoribus hostium circumagi ; quae jusserat ve- 
tare, quae vetuerat jubere. Mox, quod in perditis rebus 

15 accidit, omnes praecipere, nemo exsequi : postremo abjectis 
armis, fugam et fallendi artes circumspectabant. Irrum- 
punt Vitelliani et cuncta sanguine, ferro flammisque mis- 
cent. Pauci militarium virorum, inter quos maxime insignes 
Cornelius Martialis, Aemilius Pacensis, Casperius Niger, 

20 Didius Scaeva, pugnam ausi obtruncantur. Flavium Sabi- 
num inermem neque fugam coeptantem circumsistunt, et 
Quintium Atticum consulem, umbra honoris et suamet vani- 
tate monstratum, quod edicta in populum pro Vespasiano 
magnifica, probrosa ad versus Vitellium jecerat. Ccteri per 

25 varios casus elapsi, quidam servili habitu, alii fide clientium 
contecti et inter sarcinas abditi. Fuere qui excepto Vitel- 
lianorum signo, quo inter se noscebantur, ultro rogitantes 
respondentesve audaciam pro latebra haberent. 

LXXIV. Domitianus prima irruptione apud aedituum 

30 occultatus, sollertia liberti lineo amictu turbae sacricolarum 
immixtus ignoratusque, apud Cornelium Primum paternum 
clientem juxta Velabrum delituit. Ac potiente rerum 
patre, disjecto aeditui contubernio, modicum sacellum jovi 
conservatori aramque posuit casus suos in marmore ex- 

35 pressam. Mox imperium adeptus jovi custodi templum 
ingens seque in sinu dei sacravit. Sabinus et Atticus, 
onerati catenis et ad Vitellium ducti, nequaquam infesto 
sermone vultuque excipiuntur, frementibus qui jus caedis et 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LXXV, LXXVI, LXXVII. 159 

praemia enavatae operae petebant. Clamore a proximis 
orto sordida pars plebis supplicium Sabini exposcit, minas 
adulationesque miscet. Stantem pro gradibus palatii Vi- 
tellium et preces parantem pervicere, ut absisteret. Turn 
confossuni collaceratumque, et absciso capite, truncum 5 
corpus Sabini in Gemonias trahunt. 

LXXV. Hie exitus viri hand sane spernendi. Quinque 
et triginta stipendia in republica fecerat, domi militiaeque 
clarus : innocentiam justitiamque ejus non argueres ; ser- 
in onis nimius erat : id unum septem annis quibus Moesiam, 10 
duodecim quibus praefecturam urbis obtinuit, calumniatus 
est rumor. In fine vitae alii segnem, multi moderatum et 
civium sanguinis parcum credidere. Quod inter omnes 
constiterit, ante principatum Vespasiani decus domus penes 
Sabinum erat. Caedem ejus laetam fuisse Muciano accepi- 15 
mus. Ferebant plerique etiam paci consultum, dirempta 
aemulatione inter duos, quorum alter se fratrem imperatoris, 
alter consortem imperii cogitaret. Sed Vitellius consulis 
supplicium poscenti populo restitit, placatus ac velut vicem 
reddens, quod interrogantibus quis Capitolium incendisset, 20 
se reum Atticus obtulerat : eaque confessione, sive aptum 
tempori mendacium fuit, invidiam crimenque agnovisse et a 
partibus Vitellii amolitus videbatur. 

LXXVI. lisdem diebus L. Vitellius positis apud Fe- 
roniam castris excidio Tarracinae imminebat, clausis illic 25 
gladiatoribus remigibusque, qui non egredi moenia neque 
periculum in aperto audebant. Praeerat, ut supra memo- 
ravimus, Julianus gladiatoribus, Apollinaris remigibus, las- 
civia socordiaque gladiatorum magis quam ducum similes ; 
non vigilias agere, non intuta moenium firmare, noctu dieque 30 
fluxi et amoena littorum personantes, in ministerium luxus 
dispersis militibus, de bello tantum inter convivia loqueban- 
tur. Paucos ante dies discesserat Apinius Tiro, donisque 
ac pecuniis acerbe per municipia conquirendis plus invidiae 
quam virium partibus addebat. 35 

LXXVII. Interim ad L. Vitellium servus Verginii Capi- 
tonis perfugit, pollicitusque, si praesidium acciperet, vacuam 
arcem tradi futurum, multa nocte cohortes expeditas sum- 



160 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

mis montium jugis super caput hostium sistit : inde miles 
ad caedem magis quam ad pugnam decurrit : sternunt iner- 
mos aut arma capientes, et quosdam somno excitos, cum 
tenebris, pavore, sonitu tubarum, clamore hostili turbaren- 
5 tur. Pauci gladiatorum resistentes neque inulti cecidere ; 
ceteri ad naves ruebant, ubi cuncta pari formidine implica- 
bantur, permixtis paganis, quos nullo discrimine Vitelliani 
trucidabant. Sex Liburnicae inter primum tumultum eva- 
sere, in quis praefectus classis Apollinaris ; reliquae in lit- 

10 tore captae, aut nimio ruentium onere pressas mare hausit. 
Julianus ad L. Vitellium perductus et verberibus foedatus 
in ore ejus jugulatur. Fuere qui uxorem L. Vitellii Triari- 
am incesserent, tanquam gladio militari cincta inter luctum 
cladesque expugnatae Tarracinae superbe saeveque egisset. 

15 Ipse lauream gestae prospere rei ad fratrem misit, per- 
cunctatus, statim regredi se an perdomandae Campaniae 
insistere juberet. Quod salutare non modo partibus Ves- 
pasiani, sed reipublicae fuit : nam si recens victoria miles et 
super insitam pervicaciam secundis ferox Romam conten- 

20 disset, baud parva mole certatum nee sine exitio urbis fo- 
ret : quippe L. Vitellio quamvis infami inerat industria ; nee 
virtutibus, ut boni, sed, quo modo pessimus quisque, vitiis 
valebat. 

LXXVIII. Dum haec in partibus Vitellii geruntur, di- 

25 gressus Narnia Vespasiani exercitus, festos Saturni dies 
Ocriculi per otium agitabat. Causa tarn pravae morae, ut 
Mucianum opperirentur. Nee defuere qui Antonium sus- 
picionibus arguerent, tanquam dolo cunctantem post secre- 
tas Vitellii epistolas, quibus consulatum et nubilem filiam et 

30 dotales opes pretium proditionis offerebat. Alii, ficta haec 
et in gratiam Muciani composita, Quidam, omnium id du- 
cum consilium fuisse ostentare potius urbi bellum quam in- 
ferre, quando validissimae cohortes a Vitellio descivissent, 
et abscisis omnibus praesidiis cessurus imperio videbatur. 

35 Sed cuncta festinatione, deinde ignavia Sabini corrupta, qui 
sumptis tern ere armis munitissimam Capitolii arcem et ne 
magnis quidem exercitibus expugnabilem adversus tres co- 
hortes tueri nequivisset. Haud facile quis uni assignaverit 



A. C. 69.] LIBER III. CAP. LXXIX, LXXX. 161 

culpam, quae omnium fuit : nam et Mucianus ambiguis 
epistolis vie tores morabatur, et Antonius praepostero obse- 
quio, vel dum regerit invidiam, crimen meruit ; ceterique 
duces, dum peractum bellum putant, finem ejus insignivere. 
Ne Petilius quidem Cerialis cum mille equitibus praemissus, 5 
ut transversis itineribus per agrum Sabinum Salaria via ur- 
bem introiret, satis maturaverat, donee obsessi capitolii fama 
cunctos simul exciret. 

LXXIX. Antonius per Flaminiam ad Saxa rubra multo 
jam noctis serum auxilium venit. Illic interfectum Sabinum, 10 
conflagrasse Capitolium, tremere urbem, maesta omnia ac- 
cepit : plebem quoque et servitia pro Vitellio armari nun- 
tiabatur. Et Petilio Ceriali equestre proelium adversum 
fuerat: namque incautum et tanqua^i ad victos ruentem 
Vitelliani, interjectus equiti pedes, excepere. Pugnatum 15 
haud procul urbe inter aedificia hortosque et anfractus via- 
rum ; quae gnara Yitellianis, incomperta hostibus, metum 
fecerant : neque omnis eques concors, adjunctis quibusdam 
qui nuper apud Narniam dediti fortunam partium specula- 
bantur. Capitur praefectus alae Tullius Flavianus : ceteri 20 
foeda fuga consternantur, non ultra Fidenas secutis victo- 
ribus. 

LXXX. Eo successu studia populi aucta : vulgus urba- 
num arma cepit. Paucis scuta militaria ; plures raptis, 
quod cuique obvium, telis, signum pugnae exposcunt. Agit 25 
grates Vitellius, et ad tuendam urbem prorumpere jubet. 
Mox vocato senatu deliguntur legati ad exercitus, ut prae- 
texto reipublicae concordiam pacemque suaderent. Varia 
legatorum sors fuit. Qui Petilio Ceriali occurrerant, extre- 
mum discrimen adiere, aspernante milite conditiones pacis : 30 
vulneratur praetor Arulenus Rusticus : auxit invidiam, su- 
per violatum legati praetorisque nomen, propria dignatio 
viri : palantur comites, occiditur proximus lictor, dimovere 
turbam ausus : et ni dato a duce praesidio defensi forent, 
sacrum etiam in exteras gentes legatorum jus ante ipsa pa- 35 
triae moenia chilis rabies usque in exitium temerasset. 
Aequioribus animis accepti sunt, qui ad Antonium venerant, 
non quia modestior miles, sed duci plus auctoritatis. 

14* 



162 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

LXXXI. Miscuerat se legatis Musonius Rufus equestris 
ordinis, studium philosophiae et placita Stoicorum aemula- 
tus ; coeptabatque, permixtus manipulis, bona pacis ac belli 
discrimina disserens, armatos monere. Id plerisque ludi- 
5 brio, pluribus taedio : nee deerant, qui propellerent procul- 
carentque, ni admonitu modestissimi cujusque et aliis mini- 
tantibus omisisset intempestivam sapientiam. Obviae fuere 
et virgines Vestales cum epistolis Vitellii ad Antonium scrip- 
tis : eximi supremo certamini unum diem postulabat : si 

10 moram interjecissent, facilius omnia conventura. Virgines 
cum honore dimissae : Yitellio rescriptum Sabini caede et 
incendio Capitolii dirempta belli commercia. 

LXXXII. Tentavit tamen Antonius vocatas ad concionem 
legiones mitigare, ut ^Lstris juxta pontem Mulvium positis, 

15 postera die urbem ingrederentur. Ratio cunctandi, ne as- 
peratus proelio miles ndn populo, non senatui, ne templis 
quidem ac delubris deorum consuleret. Sed omnem prola- 
tionem ut inimicam victoriae suspectabant. Simul fulgentia 
per colles vexilla, quanquam imbellis populus sequeretur, 

20 speciem hostilis exercitus fecerant. Tripartita agmine pars, 
ut adstiterat, Flaminia via, pars juxta ripam Tiberis incessit ; 
tertium agmen per Salariam Collinae portae propinquabat. 
Plebs invectis equitibus fusa : miles Vitellianus trinis et ipse 
praesidiis occurrit. Proelia ante urbem multa et varia, sed 

25 Flavianis consilio ducum praestantibus saepius prospera. Ii 
tantum conflictati sunt, qui in partem sinistram urbis ad 
Sallustianos hortos per angusta et lubrica viarum flexerant. 
Superstantes maceriis hortorum Vitelliani ad serum usque 
diem saxis pilisque subeuntes arcebant, donee ab equitibus, 

30 qui porta Collina irruperant, circumvenirentur. Concurrere 
et in campo Martio infestae acies. Pro Flavianis fortuna et 
parta totiens victoria ; Vitelliani desperatione sola ruebant : 
et quanquam pulsi, rursus in urbe congregabantur. 

LXXXIII. Aderat pugnantibus spectator populus, utque 

35 in ludicro certamine, hos, rursus illos clamore et plausu 
fovebat : quotiens pars altera inclinasset, abditos in tabernis 
aut si quam in domum perfugerant, erui jugularique expos- 
tulantes parte majore praedae potiebantur. Nam milite ad 



A. C. 69.] LIBER. III. CAP. LXXXIV, LXXXV. 163 

sanguinern et caedes obverso, spolia in vulgus cedebant. 
Saeva ac deformis urbe tota facies : alibi proelia et vulnera, 
alibi balineae popinaeque ; simul cruor et strues corporum, 
juxta scorta et scortis similes ; quantum in luxurioso otio 
libidinum, quicquid in acerbissima captivitate scelerum, pror- 5 
sus ut eandem civitatem et furere crederes et lascivire. 
Conflixerant ante armati exercitus in urbe, bis L. Sulla, se- 
mel Cinna victoribus ; nee tunc minus crudelitatis : nunc 
inhumana securitas, et ne minimo quidem temporis volup- 
tates intermissae : velut festis diebus id quoque gaudium 10 
accederet, exsultabant, fruebantur, nulla partium cura, ma- 
lis publicis laeti. 

LXXXIY. Plurimum molis in oppugnatione castrorum 
fuit, quae acerrimus quisque ut novissimam spem retinebant. 
Eo intentius victores, praecipuo veterum cohortium studio, 15 
cuncta validissimarum urbium excidiis reperta simul admo- 
vent, testudinem, tormenta, aggeres facesque, quicquid tot 
proeliis laboris ac periculi hausissent, opere illo consummari 
clamitantes. " Urbem senatui ac populo Romano, templa 
diis reddita : proprium esse militis decus in castris : illam 20 
patriam, illos penates : ni statim recipiantur, noctem in ar- 
mis agendam." Contra Yitelliani, quanquam numero fato- 
que dispares, inquietare victoriam, morari pacem, domos 
arasque cruore foedare suprema victis solatia amplecteban- 
tur. Multi semianimes super turres et propugnacula moe- 25 
nium exspiravere. Convulsis portis, reliquus globus obtulit 
se victoribus ; et cecidere omnes contrariis vulneribus, versi 
in hostem. Ea cura etiam morientibus decori exitus fuit. 

LXXXV. Vitellius capta urbe per aversam palatii par- 
tem Aventinum in domum uxoris sellula defertur, ut, si 30 
diem latebra vitavisset, Tarracinam ad cohortes fratremque 
perfugeret. Dein mobilitate ingenii, et quae natura pavoris 
est, cum omnia metuenti praesentia maxime displicerent, in 
palatium regreditur vastum desertumque, dilapsis etiam in- 
fimis servitiorum aut occursum ejus declinantibus. Terret 35 
solitudo et tacentes loci ; tentat clausa, inhorrescit vacuis ; 
fessusque misero errore et pudenda latebra semet occultans, 
ab Julio Placido tribuno coliortis protrahitur. Vinctae 



164 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

pone tergum maims ; laniata veste, foedum spectaculum, 
ducebatur, multis increpantibus, nullo illacrimante : de- 
formitas exitus misericordiam abstulerat. Obvius e Ger- 
manicis militibus Vitellium infesto ictu, per iram vel quo 
5 maturius ludibrio eximeret, an tribunum appetierit, in in- 
certo fuit : aurem tribuni amputavit ac statim confossus 
est. Vitellium infestis mucronibus coactum modo erigere 
os et offerre contumeliis, nunc cadentes statuas suas, ple- 
rumque Rostra, aut Galbae occisi locum contueri, postremo 

10 ad Gemonias, ubi corpus Flavii Sabini jacuerat, propulere. 
Una vox non degeneris animi excepta, cum tribuno insul- 
tanti se tamen imperatorem ejus fuisse respondit. Ac 
deinde ingestis vulneribus concidit : et vulgus eadem pra- 
vitate insectabatur interfectum, qua foverat viventem. 

15 LXXXYI. Patria illi Luceria : septimum et quinquagesi- 
mum aetatis annum explebat. Consulatum, sacerdotia, 
nomen locumque inter primores nulla sua industria, sed 
cuncta patris claritudine adeptus. Principatum ei detulere, 
qui ipsum non noverant. Studia exercitus raro cuiquam, 

20 bonis artibus quaesita, perinde affuere, quam huic per ig- 
naviam. Inerat tamen simplicitas ac liberalitas ; quae, ni 
adsit modus, in exitium vertuntur. Amicitias, dum mag- 
nitudine munerum, non constantia morum continere ? putat, 
meruit magis quam habuit. Reipublicae haud dubie inte- 

25 rerat Vitellium vinci : sed imputare perfidiam non possunt, 
qui Vitellium Vespasiano prodidere, cum a Galba descivis- 
sent. Praecipiti in occasum die, ob pavorem magistratuum 
senatorumque, qui dilapsi ex urbe aut per domos clientium 
semet occultabant, vocari senatus non potuit. Domitianum, 

30 postquam nihil hostile metuebatur, ad duces partium pro- 
gressum et Caesarem consalutatum, miles frequens, utque 
erat in armis, in paternos penates deduxit. 



C. CORNELII TACITI 

HISTORIARUM 

LIBER QUARTUS. 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 

Cap. I. Interfecto Vitellio, milites Flaviani in urbe saeviunt. II. Do- 
mitianus, nomen sedemque Caesaris nactus, adulteriis filium principis 
agit. L. Vitellius interficitur. III. Campania composita, Vespasi- 
ano senatus consulatum cum Tito filio, praeturam Domitiano et con- 
sulare imperium, decernit. IV. Muciani, Antonii, ceterorum honores. 
Restituendi Capitolii consilium. Libertati consulit Helvidius Priscus, 
cujus V, vita et mores, VI — VIII, et cum Eprio Marcello acre jur- 
gium de legatis ad Principem mittendis. IX. De impensis publicis 
dissensio. X. Musonius Rufus in P. Celerem invehitur. XI. Mu- 
cianus urbem ingressus, cuncta in se trahit, Calp. Galerianum caedi 
curat, Asiaticum libertum servili supplicio tollit. 

XII. Germanicae cladis fama. Ejus belli causa in Batavis, XIII, Duce 
Claudio Civile. XIV — XVI. Is Batavos, Canninefates, Frisios, ex- 
citat, statim dolo, mox aperta vi, Romanos superat. XVII. Victoriae 
hujus fama motae Germaniae auxilia offerunt Civili, qui et Galliarum 
societatem affectat. XVIII. Hordeonii Flacci segnitia. Victi Ro- 
mani in Vetera castra fugiunt. XIX. Batavorum et Canninefatium 
cohortes, jussu Vitellii in urbem pergentes, corruptae, Civili jungun- 
tur, et XX, Bonnensi proelio Romanorum aciem perfringunt. XXI. 
Civilis, consilii ambiguus, suos iu verba Vespasiani adigit, hostilia 
velans ; XXII, XXIII, mox Vetera obsidet, frustra. XXIV, XXV. 
Hordeonius Flaccus, seditione conflictatus, summam rerum Voculae 
permittit. XXVI, XXVII. Huic additus Herennius Gallus, re male 
gesta, verberatur. Nova seditio. XXVIII — XXX. Civilis, immen- 
sis auctibus ab universa Germania elatus, obsidium Veterum urget, 
Ubios vexat. Varia certamina. 

XXXI. Nuntiato Cremonensi praelio, auxilia Gallorum a Vitellio descis- 
cunt. Suos quoque Hordeonius in Vespasiani verba adigit haesi- 
tantes. XXXII. Ad Civilem missus Montanus, ut a bello absistere 
jubeat, ab ipso tentatur. XXXIII, XXXIV. Cum Vocula confligit 



166 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

Civilis vario eventu, non sine utriusque ducis culpa. XXXV. Vocu- 
la male utitur victoria. Vetera obsidione liberat. XXXVI. Civilis 
Geldubam capit. Romani milites Hordeonium necant. Vocula per 
tenebras evadit. XXXVII. Mox a Civile superati Voculam denuo 
sequuntur, quocum obsidione Magontiacum liberant. Treveri, nunc 
fidi, mox rebel! es. 

XXXVIII. Vespasianus cum Tito consulatum init. Falsi pavores in 
urbe et a L. Pisone. XXXIX. Domitianus praetor. Vis penes Mu- 
cianum. Is Primi Antonii potentiam infringit. XL. Restituti Gal- 
bae honores. Bareae Sorini manibus, P. Celere damnato, satisfac- 
tum. XLI. Alii quoque delatores castigati. XLII. In his Aquilium 
Regulum, a Messalla fratre defensum, Moutanus percellit. XLIII, 
XLIV. Idem in Marcellum tentat Helvidius, intercedente Caesare, 
abolendam priorum temporum memoriam rato. Itaque in paucos 
modo saevitum. XLV. Senenses ob pulsatum senatorem puniti. An- 
tonius Flamma lege repetundarum damnatus. XLVI. Militaris 
seditio a Muciauo repressa. XLVII. Abrogati consulatus, quos Vi- 
tellius dederat. Funus censorium Flavio Sabino ductum. XLVIII 
— L. L. Pisonis, Africae proconsulis, caedes. Servi ejus egregium 
mendacium. Oeensium Leptitanorumquediscordiaecompositae. Fusi 
Garamantes. LI. Parthorum auxilia non recipit Vespasianus. LII. 
Hunc iratum Domitiano Titus mitigat. LIII. Cura restituendi 
Capitolii in L. Vestinum collata. 

LIV. Audita mors Vitellii duplicaverat bellum per Gallias Germani- 
asque. Cum incendio capitolii finis imperio adesse creditus. LV 
— LVIII. Interfecto Hordeonio, conspirant cum Civile et Classico 
Julius Tutor et Julius Sabinus : nutant reliquae Galliae. Romanae 
quoque legiones tentantur, frustra renitente Vocula, quo LIX, LX, 
caeso, vinctisque Herennio et Numisio legatis, istas pro imperio 
Galliarum sacramento adigit Civilis, Tutor Agrippinenis Classicus 
obsessos ad Vetera. LXI. Civilis, voti compos, crinem deposuit. 
Turn et major auctoritas Veledae. LXII. Captarum legionum 
maestum silensque agmen. Ala Picentina necem Voculae vindicat. 
LXIII — LXV. Colonia Agrippinensis, Transrhenanis gentibus in- 
visa, in summum discrimen adducta, cum Civile societatem init, 
Veledae Numen donis placat. LXVI. Civilis Betasios, Tungros, 
Nervios in fidem accipit. LXVII. Fusi Lingones a Sequanis ; J. Sa- 
binus victus latet. LXVIII. Mucianus cum Domitiano ad bellum 
accingitur. LXIX. Remi Gallias in fide Romana conservant, ex- 
ceptis Treveris atque Lingonibus. LXX. Sed nee iis nee reliquis 
civitatibus, nee ipsis ducibus, satis consilii ac concordiae. Tutor ad 
Bingium victus. LXXI. Petilius Cerialis Magontiacjim venit, spes 
Romanorum erigit, Valentinum ducem magna strage affectum capit. 
LXXII. Treveros intrat. Militibus, exitium urbis poscentibus, re- 
sistit. Victas legiones in castra recepit. LXXIII, LXXIV. Treve- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. I, tl. 167 

ros et Lingonas officii admonet. LXXV. Civilis et Classicus ad 
Cerialem literas mittunt, ad quas ille nihil. LXXVI. Civilis cunc- 
tandum, Tutor et Classicus statira pugnandum, statuunt. LXXVII, 
LXXVIII. Atrox praelium, quo Cerialis, initio victus, mox victor 
castra hostium exscindit. LXXIX. Agrippinenses a Germanis de- 
sciscunt. LXXX. Mucianus Vitellii filium interficit. Antonius 
Primus, ad Vespasianum profectus non pro spe excipitur. LXXXI. 
Multus miraculis coelestis in Vespasianum favor ostensus. Ipse ocu- 
lorum tabe notum, alium manu aegrum, sanitati restituit. LXXXII. 
Confirmatur omine in templo Serapidis, cujus LXXXIII, LXXXIV, 
origo Sinopensis, templum Alexandriae magnificum, nomen. 
LXXXV. Valentinus supplicio affectus. LXXXVI. Domitianus, 
frustra tentato Ceriale, an sibi exercitum imperiumque traditurus 
foret, literarum studium et amorem carminum simulat. 
Gesta haec partim eodem anno, partim imp. vespasiano iterum, tito 
fil. coss. 



Interfecto Yitellio, bellum magis desierat quam pax 
coeperat. Armati per urbem victores implacabili odio 
victos consectabantur : plenae caedibus viae, cruenta fora 
templaque, passim trucidatis, ut quemque fors obtulerat. 
Ac mox augescente licentia, scrutari ac protrahere abditos ; 5 
si quern procerum habitu et juventa conspexerant, obtrun- 
care, nullo militum aut populi discrimine. Quae saevitia, 
recentibus odiis, sanguine explebatur, dein verterat in ava- 
ritiam ; nihil usquam secretum aut clausum sinebant, Vitelli- 
anos occultari simulantes. Initium id perfringendarum do- 10 
muum, vel, si resisteretur, causa caedis ; nee deerat egen- 
tissimus quisque e plebe et pessimi servitiorum prodere 
ultro dites dominos : alii ab amicis monstrabantur. Ubique 
lamenta, conclamationes, et fortunae captae urbis, adeo ut 
Othoniani Vitellianique militis invidiosa antea petulantia 15 
desideraretur. Duces partium accendendo civili bello acres, 
temperandae victoriae im pares : quippe in turbas et discor- 
dias pessimo cuique plurima vis ; pax et quies bonis artibus 
indigent. 

II. Nomen sedemque Caesaris Domitianus acceperat, 20 
nondum ad curas intentus, sed stupris et adulteriis filium 
principis agebat. Praefectura praetorii penes Arrium Va- 
rum, summa potentiae in Primo Antonio: is pecuniam 



168 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

familiamque e Principis domo, quasi Cremonensem praedam, 
rapere : ceteri modestia vel ignobilitate, ut in bello obscuri, 
ita praemiorum expertes. Civitas pavida et servitio parata 
occupari redeuntem Tarracina L. Vitellium cum cohortibus, 
5 exstinguique reliqua belli postulabat. Praeraissi Ariciara 
equites ; agmen legionum intra Bovillas stetit. Nee cunc- 
tatus est Vitellius seque et cohortes arbitrio victoris per- 
mittere, et miles infelicia arma baud minus ira quam metu 
abjecit. Longus deditorum ordo septus armatis per urbem 

10 incessit. Nemo supplici vultu, sed tristes et truces et ad- 
versum plausus ac lasciviam insultantis vulgi immobiles : 
paucos erumpere ausos circumjecti pressere ; ceteri in cus- 
todiam conditi. Nihil quisquam locutus indignum, et quan- 
quam inter adversa, salva virtutis fama. Dein L. Vitellius 

15 interficitur, par vitiis fratris, in piincipatu ejus vigilantior, 
nee perinde prosperis socius quam adversis abstractus. 

III. Iisdem diebus Lucilius Bassus cum expedito equite 
ad componendam Campaniam mittitur, discordibus muni- 
cipiorum animis magis inter semet quam contumacia adver- 

20 sus Principem. Viso milite quies ; et minoribus coloniis 
impunitas. Capuae legio tertia biemandi causa locatur, et 
domus illustres afflictae, cum contra Tarracinenses nulla 
ope juvarentur. Tan to proclivius est injuriae quam bene- 
ficio vicem exsolvere, quia gratia oneri, ultio in quaestu 

25 habetur. Solatio fuit servus Verginii Capitonis, quem pro- 
ditorem Tarracinensium diximus, patibulo affixus in iisdem 
annulis quos acceptos a Vitellio gestabat. At Romae sena- 
tus cuncta principibus solita Vespasiano decernit, laetus et 
spei certus : quippe sumpta per Gallias Hispaniasque civilia 

30 arma, motis ad bellum Germanis, mox Illyrico, postquam 
Aegyptum, Judaeam Syriamque, et omnes provincias ex- 
ercitusque lustra verant, velut expiato terrarum orbe, cepisse 
finem videbantur. Addidere alacritatem Vespasiani literae, 
tanquam manente bello scriptae : ea, prima specie, forma : 

35 ceterum ut Princeps loquebatur civilia de se et reipublicae 
egregia; nee senatus obsequium deerat. Ipsi consulatus 
cum Tito filio, praetura Domitiano et consulare imperium 
decernuntur. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER. IV. CAP. IV, V, VI. 169 

IV. Miserat et Mucianus epistolas ad senatum, quae 
materiam sermonibus praebuere : si privatus esset, cur 
publice loqueretur ? potuisse eadem, paucos post dies, loco 
sententiae dici : ipsa quoque insectatio in Vitellium sera et 
sine libertate. Id vero erga rempublicam superbura, erga 5 
Principem contumeliosum, quod in manu sua fuisse impe- 
rium donatumque Vespasiano jactabat. Ceterum invidia 
in occulto ; adulatio in aperto erant : multo cum honore 
verborum Muciano triumphalia de bello civium data : sed 

in Sarmatas expeditio fingebatur. Adduntur Primo Antonio 10 
consularia, Cornelio Fusco et Arrio Varo praetoria insignia, 
Mox deos respexere : restitui Capitolium placuit. Eaque 
omnia Valerius Asiaticus consul designatus censuit : ceteri 
vultu manuque, pauci, quibus conspicua dignitas aut inge- 
nium adulatione exercitum, compositis orationibus assentie- 15 
bantur. Ubi ad Helvidium Priscum praetorem designatum 
ventum, prompsit sententiam, ut honorificam in bonum 
Principem, falsa aberant, et studiis senatus attollebatur. 
Isque praecipuus illi dies magnae offensae initium et mag- 
nae gloriae fuit. 20 

V. Res poscere videtur, quia iterum in mentionem inci- 
dimus viri saepius memorandi, ut vitam studiaque ejus, et 
quali fortuna sit usus, paucis repetam. Helvidius Priscus 
Tarracinae municipio, Cluvio patre qui ordinem primipili 
duxisset, ingenium illustre altioribus studiis juvenis admo- 25 
dum dedit, non ut plerique, ut nomine magnifico segne 
otium velaret, sed quo firmior ad versus fortuita rempub- 
licam capesseret : doctores sapientiae secutus est, qui sola 
bona, quae honesta, mala tantum, quae turpia ; potentiam, 
nobilitatem ceteraque extra animum neque bonis neque 30 
malis annumerant. Quaestorius adhuc a Paeto Thrasea 
gener delectus, e moribus soceri nihil aeque ac libertatem 
hausit : civis, senator, maritus, gener, amicus, cunctis vitae 
officiis aequabilis, opum contemptor, recti pervicax, con- 
stans ad versus metus. 35 

VI. Erant, quibus appetentior famae videretur, quando 
etiam sapientibus cupido gloriae novissima exuitur. Ruina 
soceri in exsilium pulsus, ut Galbae principatu rediit, Mar- 

15 



170 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

cellum Eprium delatorem Thraseae accusare aggreditur. 
Ea ultio, incertum major an justior, senatum in studia 
diduxerat. Nam si caderet Marcellus, agmen reorum ster- 
nebatur. Primo minax certamen, et egregiis utriusque ora- 
5 tionibus testatum. Mox dubia voluntate Galbae, multis 
senatorum deprecantibus, omisit Priscus, variis, ut sunt 
hominum ingenia, sermonibus moderationem laudantium 
aut constantiam requirentium. Ceterum eo senatus die, 
quo de imperio Vespasiani censebant, placuerat mitti ad 
10 Principem legatos. Hinc inter Helvidium et Eprium acre 
jurgium. Priscus eligi nominatim a magistratibus juratis, 
Marcellus urnam postulabat, quae consulis designati sen- 
tentia fuerat. 

VII. Sed Marcelli studium proprius rubor excitabat, ne, 
15 aliis electis, posthabitus crederetur. Paulatimque per alter- 

cationem ad continuas et infestas orationes provecti sunt, 
quaerente Helvidio, " quid ita Marcellus judicium magistra- 
tuum pavesceret? esse illi pecuniam et eloquentiam, quis 
multos anteiret, ni memoria flagitiorum urgeretur. Sorte 

20 et urna mores non discerni : suffragia et existimationem 
senatus reperta, ut in cuj usque vitam famamque penetra- 
rent : pertinere ad utilitatem reipublicae, pertinere ad Ves- 
pasiani honorem, occurrere illi, quos innocentissimos senatus 
habeat, qui honestis sermonibus aures Imperatoris imbuant. 

25 Fuisse Vespasiano amicitiam cum Thrasea, Sorano, Sentio ; 
quorum accusatores, etiamsi puniri non op or teat, ostentari 
non debere : hoc senatus judicio velut admoneri Principem, 
quos probet, quos reformidet : nullum majus boni imperii 
instrumentum quam bonos amicos esse: satis Marcello, 

30 quod Neronem in exitium tot innocentium impulerit. Frue- 
retur praemiis et impunitate ; Vespasianum melioribus re- 
linqueret." 

VIII. Marcellus, " non suam sententiam impugnari, sed 
consulem designatum censuisse ,, dicebat, " secundum vetera 

35 exempla, quae sortem legationibus posuissent, ne ambitioni 
aut inimicitiis locus foret. Nihil evenisse, cur antiquitus 
instituta exolescerent, aut Principis honor in cujusquam 
contumeliam verteretur : sufiicere omnes obsequio ; id ma- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. IX, X. 171 

gis vitandum, ne pervicacia quorundam irritaretur animus 
novo principatu suspensus et vultus quoque ac sermones 
omnium circumspectans. Se meminisse temporum quibus 
natus sit, quam civitatis formam patres avique instituerint ; 
ulteriora mirari, praesentia sequi; bonos imperatores voto 5 
expetere, qualescumque tolerare. Non magis sua oratione 
Thraseam quam judicio senatus afflictum. Saevitiam Ne- 
ronis per ejusmodi imagines illusisse, nee minus sibi anxiam 
talem amicitiam quam aliis exsilium. Denique constantia, 
fortitudine Catonibus et Brutis aequaretur Helvidius ; se 10 
unum esse ex illo senatu, qui simul servient. Suadere 
etiam Prisco, ne supra Principem scanderet, ne Vespasia- 
num senem triumphalem, juvenum liberorum patrem prae- 
ceptis coerceret. Quomodo pessimis imperatoribus sine 
fine dominationem, ita quamvis egregiis modum libertatis 15 
placere." Haee magnis utrimque contentionibus j aetata, 
diversis studiis accipiebantur. Yicit pars, quae sortiri lega- 
tos malebat, etiam mediis patrum annitentibus retinere 
morem. Et splendidissimus quisque eodem inclinabat metu 
invidiae, si ipsi eligerentur. 20 

IX. Secutum aliud certamen. Praetores aerarii (nam 
turn a praetoribus tractabatur aerarium) publicam pauper- 
tatem questi, modum impensis postulaverant. Earn curam 
consul designatus, ob magnitudinem oneris et remedii diffi- 
cultatem, Principi reservabat. Helvidius arbitrio senatus 25 
agendum censuit. Cum perrogarent sententias consules, 
Vulcatius Tertullinus tribunus plebis intercessit, ne quid 
super tanta re, Principe absente, statueretur. Censuerat 
Helvidius, ut Capitolium publice restitueretur, adjuvaret 
Vespasianus. Earn sententiam modestissimus quisque si- 30 
lentio, deinde oblivio transmisit. Fuere qui et meminis- 
sent. 

X. Turn invectus est Musonius Rufus in Publium Cele- 
rem, a quo Baream Soranum falso testimonio circumventum 
arguebat. Ea cognitione renovari odia accusationum vide- 35 
bantur : sed vilis et nocens reus protegi non poterat. Quippe 
Sorani sancta memoria ; Celer professus sapientiam, dein 
testis in Baream, proditor corruptorque amicitiae cujus se 



1*72 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

magistrum ferebat. Proximus dies causae destinatur. Nee 
tarn Musonius aut Publius quam Priscus et Marcellus cete- 
rique, motis ad ultionem animis, exspectabantur. 

XI. Tali rerum statu, cum discordia inter patres, ira apud 
5 victos, nulla in victoribus auctoritas, non leges, non princeps 
in civitate essent, Mucianus urbem ingressus cuncta simul 
in se traxit : fracta Primi Antonii Varique Arrii potentia, 
male dissimulata in eos Muciani iracundia, quamvis vultu 
tegeretur. Sed civitas rimandis offensis sagax verterat se 

10 transtuleratque. Ille unus ambiri, coli : nee deerat ipse, 
stipatus armatis, domos hortosque permutans, apparatu, in- 
cessu, excubiis, vim principis amplecti, nomen remittere. 
Plurimum terroris intulit caedes Calpurnii Galeriani. Is 
fuit filius C. Pisonis, nihil ausus : sed nomen insigne et de- 

15 cora ipsi juventa rumore vulgi celebrabantur, erantque in 
civitate adhuc turbida et novis sermonibus laeta, qui princi- 
palis inanem ei famam circumdarent. Jussu Muciani cus- 
todia militari cinctus, ne in ipsa urbe conspectior mors foret, 
ad quadragesimum ab urbe lapidem Appia via fuso per 

20 venas sanguine exstinguitur. Julius Priscus, praetoriarum 
sub Vitellio cohortium praefectus, se ipse interfecit pudore 
magis quam necessitate. Alfenus Varus ignaviae infamiae- 
que suae superfuit. Asiaticus enim (is libertus) malam po- 
tentiam servili supplicio expiavit. 

25 XII. Iisdem diebus crebrescentem cladis Germanicae fa- 
mam, nequaquam maesta civitas excipiebat : caesos exerci- 
tus, capta legionum hiberna, descivisse Gallias, non ut mala 
loquebantur. Id bellum quibus causis ortum, quanto exter- 
narum sociarumque gentium motu flagraverit, altius expe- 

30 diam. Batavi, donee trans Rhenum agebant, pars Catto- 
rum : seditione domestica pulsi, extrema Gallicae orae 
vacua cultoribus, simulque insulam inter vada sitam occu- 
pavere, quam mare Oceanum a fronte, Rhenus amnis tergum 
ac latera circumluit ; nee opibus Romanis, societate validio- 

35 rum, attriti, viros tantum armaque imperio ministrant ; diu 
Germanicis bellis exerciti ; mox aucta per Britanniam gloria, 
transmissis illuc cohortibus, quas vetere instituto nobilissimi 
popularium regebant. Erat et domi delectus eques, prae- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XIII, XIV. 173 

cipuo nandi studio arma equosque retinens integris turmis 
Rhenum perrumpere. 

XIII. Julius Paulus et Claudius Civilis, regia stirpe, 
multo ceteros anteibant. Paulum Fonteius Capito falso re- 
bellionis crimine interfecit. Injectae Civili catenae, missus- 5 
que ad Neronem et a Galba absolutus sub Vitellio rursus 
discrimen adit, flagitante supplicium ejus exercitu. Inde 
causae irarum spesque ex malis nostris. Sed Civilis ultra 
quam barbaris solitum ingenio sollers, et Sertorium se aut 
Hannibalem ferens siraili oris dehonestamento, ne ut hosti 10 
obviam iretur si a populo Romano palam descivisset, Ves- 
pasiani amicitiam studiumque partium praetendit, missis 
sane ad eum Primi Antonii Uteris, quibus avertere accita 
Yitellio auxilia et tumultus Germanici specie retentare le- 
giones jubebatur. Eadem Hordeonius Flaccus praesens 15 
monuerat, inclinato in Yespasianum animo et reipublicae 
cura, cui excidium adventabat, si redintegratum bellum et 
tot armatorum millia Italiam irrupissent. 

XIV. Igitur Civilis desciscendi certus, occultato interim 
aldore consilio, cetera ex eventu judicaturus, novare res hoc 20 
modo coepit. Jussu Vitellii, Batavorum juventus ad delec- 
tum vocabatur ; quern, suapte natura gravem, onerabant 
ministri avaritia ac luxu, senes aut invalidos conquirendo, 
quos pretio dimitterent ; rursus impubes sed forma con- 
spicui (et est plerisque procera pueritia) ad stuprum trahe- 25 
bantur. Hinc invidia ; et compositae seditionis auctores 
perpulere, ut delectum abnuerent. Civilis primores gentis 

et promptissimos vulgi, specie epularum sacrum in nemus 
vocatos, ubi nocte ac laetitia incaluisse videt, a laude gloria- 
que gentis orsus, injurias et raptus et cetera servitii mala 30 
enumerat. " Neque enim societatem, ut olim, sed tanquam 
mancipia haberi : quando legatum, gravi quidem comitatu 
et superbo cum imperio, venire ? tradi se praefectis centu- 
rionibusque ; quos ubi spoliis et sanguine expleverint, mu- 
tari, exquirique novos sinus et varia praedandi vocabula. 35 
Instare delectum, quo liberi a parentibus, fratres a fratribus 
velut supremum dividantur. Nunquam magis afflictam rem 
Romanam, nee aliud in hibernis quam praedam et senes : 

15* 



174 C, CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

attollerent tantum oculos et inania legion um nomina ne 
pavescerent. At sibi robur peditum equitumque, consan* 
guineos Germanos, Gallias idem cupientes : ne Romanis 
quidem ingratum id bellum, cujus ambiguam fortunam Ves- 
5 pasiano imputaturos : victoriae rationem non reddi." 

XV. Magno cum assensu auditus, barbaro ritu et patriis 
exsecrationibus universos adigit. Missi ad Canninefates, qui 
consilia sociarent. Ea gens partem insulae colit, origine, 
lingua, virtute par Batavis ; numero superantur. Mox oc- 

10 cultis nuntiis pellexit Britannica auxilia, Batavorum cohortes 
missas in Germaniam, ut supra retulimus, ac turn Magonti- 
aci agentes. Erat in Canninefatibus stolidae audaciae Brin- 
no, claritate natalium insigni : pater ejus, multa hostilia 
ausus, Caianarum expeditionum ludibrium impune spreverat. 

15 Igitur ipso rebellis familiae nomine placuit, impositusque 
scuto more gentis, et sustinentium humeris vibratus, dux 
deligitur. Statimque accitis Frisiis (transrhenana gens est) 
duarum cohortium hiberna proxima occupatu, Oceano ir- 
rumpit. Nee praeviderant impetum hostium milites ; nee 

20 si praevidissent, satis virium ad arcendum erat. Capta 
igitur ac direpta castra : dein vagos et pacis modo effusos 
lixas negotiatoresque Romanos invadunt. Simul excidiis 
castellorum imminebat ; quae a praefectis cohortium incensa 
sunt, quia defendi nequibant. Signa vexillaque et quod 

25 militum in superiorem insulae partem congregantur, duce 
Aquilio primipilari, nomen magis exercitus quam robur. 
Quippe, viribus cohortium abductis, Vitellius e proximis 
Nerviorum Germanorumque pagis segnem numerum armis 
oneraverat. 

30 XYI. Civilis dolo grassandum rat us, incusavit ultro prae- 
fectos, quod castella deseruissent. " Sese cum cohorte, cui 
praeerat, Canninefatem tumultum compressurum ; illi sua 
quisque hiberna repeterent." Subesse fraudem consilio, et 
dispersas cohortes facilius opprimi, nee Brinnonem ducem 

35 ejus belli sed Civilem esse patuit, erumpentibus paulatim 
indiciis, quae Germani, laeta bello gens, non diu occultave- 
rant. Ubi insidiae parum cessere, ad vim transgressus Can- 
ninefates, Frisios, Batavos propriis cuneis componit : directa 



A. C. 69.] lAuZ.ll IV. CAP. XVII. 175 

ex diverso acies haud procul a flumine Rheno, et obversis 
in hostem navibus, quas, incensis castellis, illuc appulerant: 
nee diu certato, Tungrorum Conors signa ad Civilem trans- 
tulit ; perculsique milites improvisa proditione a sociis hos- 
tibusque caedebantur. Eadem etiam navibus perfidia. Pars 5 
remigum e Batavis, tanquam iniperitia, officia nautarum pro- 
pugnatorumque impediebant : mox contra tendere, et pup pes 
hostili ripae objicere : ad postremum gubematores centu- 
rionesque, nisi eadem volentis, trucidant, donee universa 
quatuor et viginti navium classis transfugeret aut cape- 10 
retur. 

XVIL Clara ea victoria in praesens, in posterum usui ; 
armaque et naves, quibus indigebant, adepti, magna per 
Ger manias Galliasque fama libertatis auc tores celebraban- 
tur. Germaniae statim misere legatos auxilia offerentes. 15 
Galliarum societatem Civilis arte donisque affectabat, captos 
cohortium praefectos suas in civitates remittendo, cohorti- 
bus, abire an manere mallent, data potestate : manentibus 
honorata militia, digredientibus spolia Romanorum oflfere- 
bantur. Simul secretis sermonibus admonebat malorum, 20 
quae tot annis perpessi, miseram servitutem falso pa- 
cem vocarent. " Batavos, quanquam tributorum expertes, 
arma contra communes dominos cepisse : prima acie fusum 
victumque Romanum: quid, si Galliae jugum exuant? 
quantum in Italia reiiquum ? provinciarum sanguine provin- 25 
cias vinci : ne Yindicis aciem cogitarent : Batavo equite 
protritos Aeduos Arvernosque ; fuisse inter Verginii auxilia 
Belgas, vereque reputantibus, Galliam suismet viribus con- 
cidisse. Nunc easdem omnium partes, addito, si quid mili- 
taris disciplinae in castris Romanorum viguerit : esse secum 30 
veteranas cohortes, quibus nuper Othonis legiones procu- 
buerint. Servirent Syria Asiaque et suetus rcgibus Oriens : 
multos adhuc in Gallia vivere ante tributa genitos. Nuper 
certe, caeso Quintilio Varo, pulsam e Germania servitutem, 
nee Vitellium Principem, sed Caesarem Augustum bello 35 
provocatum. Libertatem natura etiam mutis animalibus 
datam ; virtutem proprium hominum bonum. Deos fortio- 
ribus adesse. Proinde arriperent vacui occupatos, integri 



176 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822, 

fessos : dura alii Vespasianum, alii Vitellium foveant, patere 
locum ad versus utrumque." 

XVIII. Sic in Gallias Germaniasque intentus, si destina- 
ta provenissent, validissimafura ditissimaruraque nationum 
5 regno imminebat. At Flaccus Hordeonius primos Civilis 
conatus per dissimulationem aluit. Ubi expugnata castra, 
deletas cohortes, pulsum Batavorum insula Romanum no- 
raen trepidi nuntii afferebant, Muniura Lupercum legatum 
(is duarum legionura hibernis praeerat) egredi adversus 

10 hostem jubet. Lupercus legionarios e praesentibus, Ubios 
e proximis, Treverorum equites haud longe agentis raptim 
transraisit, addita Batavorum ala, quae jam pridem corrupta 
fidem simulabat, ut proditis in ipsa acie Romanis, majore 
pretio fugeret. Civilis captarura cohortium signis circum- 

15 datus, ut suo militi recens gloria ante oculos, et hostes me- 
moria cladis terrerentur, matrem suam sororesque, simul 
omnium conjuges parvosque liberos consistere a tergo jubet, 
hortamenta victoriae vel pulsis pudorem. Ut virorum cantu, 
feminarum ululatu sonuit acies, nequaquam par a legionibus 

20 cohortibusque redditur clamor. Nudaverat sinistrum cornu 
Batavorum ala transfugiens statimque in nos versa : sed 
legionarius miles, quanquam rebus trepidis, arma ordinesque 
retinebat. Ubiorum Treverorumque auxilia, foeda fuga 
dispersa, totis campis palantur. Illuc incubuere Germani ; 

25 et fuit interim effugium legionibus in castra, quibus Vete- 
rum nomen est. Praefectus alae Batavorum Claudius La- 
beo, oppidano certamine aemulus Civili, ne interfectus invi- 
diam apud populares vel, si retineretur, semina discordiae 
praeberet, in Frisios avehitur. 

30 XIX. Iisdem diebus Batavorum et Canninefatium cohor- 
tes, cum jussu Vitellii in urbem pergerent, missus a Civile 
nuntius assequitur. Intumuere statim superbia ferociaque, 
et pretium itineris donativum, duplex stipendium, augeri equi- 
tum numerum, promissa sane a Vitellio, postulabant, non ut 

35 assequerentur, sed causam seditioni. Et Flaccus multa 
concedendo nihil aliud effecerat, quam ut acrius exposcerent, 
quae sciebant negaturum. Spreto Flacco inferiorem Ger- 
maniam petivere, ut Civili jungerentur. Hordeonius, adhi- 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XX, XXI. 177 

bitis tribunis centurionibusque, consultavit, num obsequium 
abnuentes vi coerceret. Mox insita ignavia et trepidis mi- 
nistris, quos ambiguus auxiliorum animus et subito delectu 
suppletae legiones angebant, statuit continere intra castra 
militem. Dein poenitentia, et arguentibus ipsis, qui suase- 5 
rant, tanquam secuturus, scripsit Herennio Gallo legionis 
primae legato, qui Bonnam obtinebat, ut arceret transitu 
Batavos : se cum exercitu tergis eorum haesurum. Et op- 
primi poterant, si bine Hordeonius, inde Gallus, motis utrim- 
que copiis, medios clausissent. Flaccus omisit inceptum, 10 
aliisque literis Galium monuit, ne terreret abeuntes. Unde 
suspicio sponte legatorum excitari bellum, cunctaque quae 
acciderant aut metuebantur, non inertia militis neque hosti- 
um vi sed fraude ducum evenire. 

XX. Batavi, cum castris Bonnensibus propinquarent, 15 
praemisere qui Herennio Gallo mandata cohortium expo- 
neret : " nullum sibi bellum adversus Romanos, pro quibus 
totiens bellassent. Longa atque irrita militia fessis patriae 
atque otii cupidinem esse. Si nemo obsisteret, innoxium 
iter fore ; sin arma occurrant, ferro viam inventuros." Cunc- 20 
tantem legatum milites perpulerant, fortunam proelii expe- 
riretur. Tria millia legionariorum et tumultuariae Belgarum 
cohortes, simul paganorum lixarumque ignava sed procax 
ante periculum manus, omnibus portis rumpunt, ut Batavos 
numero impares circumfundant. Illi veteres militiae in cu- 25 
neos congregantur, densi undique et frontem tergaque ac 
latus tuti. Sic tenuem nostrorum aciem perfringunt. Ce- 
dentibus Belgis, pellitur legio, et vallum portasque trepidi 
petebant. Ibi plurimum cladis : cumulatae corporibus fos- 
sae, nee caede tantum et vulneribus, sed ruina et suis pleri- 30 
que telis interire. Yictores, colonia Agrippinensium vitata, 
nihil cetero in itinere hostile ausi, Bonnense proelium excusa- 
bant, tanquam petita pace, postquam negabatur, sibimetipsi 
consuluissent. 

XXI. Civilis adventu veteranarum cohortium, justi jam 35 
exercitus ductor sed consilii ambiguus et vim Romanam 
reputans, cunctos qui aderant in verba Vespasiani adigit, 
mittitque legatos ad duas legiones, quae priore acie pulsae 



1 78 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

in Vetera castra concesserant, ut idem sacramentum acci- 
perent. Redditur responsum, "neque proditoris neque 
hostium se consiliis uti. Esse sibi Vitellium Principem, pro 
quo fidem et arma usque ad supremum spiritum retenturos : 
5 proinde perfuga Batavus arbitrium rerum Romanarum ne 
ageret, sed meritas sceleris poenas exspectaret." Quae ubi 
relata Civili, incensus ira universam Batavorum gentem in 
arma rapit. Junguntur Bructeri Tencterique, et excita 
nuntiis Germania ad praedam famamque. 

10 XXII. Ad versus has concurrentis belli minas, legati lecfio- 
num Munius Lupercus et Numisius Rufus vallum murosque 
firmabant. Subversa longae pacis opera, haud procul cas- 
tris in modum municipii exstructa, ne hostibus usui forent. 
Sed parum provisum, ut copiae in castra conveherentur : 

15 rapi permisere ; ita paucis diebus per licentiam absumpta 
sunt, quae adversus necessitates in longum suffecissent. 
Civilis medium agmen cum robore Batavorum obtinens, 
utramque Rheni ripam, quo truculentior visu foret, Germa- 
norum catervis complet, assultante per campos equite. 

20 Simul naves in adversum amnem agebantur. Hinc vetera- 
narum cohortium signa, inde depromptae silvis lucisque 
ferarum imagines, ut cuique genti inire proelium mos est, 
mixta belli civilis externique facie obstupefecerant obsessos : 
et spem oppugnantium augebat amplitudo valli, quod dua- 

25 bus legionibus situm vix quinque millia armatorum Roma- 
norum tuebantur ; sed lixarum multitudo turbata pace illuc 
congregata et bello ministra aderat. 

XXIII. Pars castrorum in collem leniter exsurgens, pars 
aequo adibatur : quippe illis hibernis obsideri premique 

30 Germanias Augustus crediderat, neque unquam id malorum, 
ut oppugnatum ultro legiones nostras venirent. Inde non 
loco neque munimentis labor additus : vis et arma satis 
placebant. Batavi Transrhenanique, quo discreta virtus 
manifestius spectaretur, sibi quaeque gens consistunt, emi- 

35 nus lacessentes. Post, ubi pleraque telorum turribus pin- 
nisque moenium irrita haerebant et desuper saxis vulnera- 
bantur, clamore atque impetu invasere vallum, appositis 
plerique scalis, alii per testudinem suorum : scandebantque 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XXIV, XXV. 179 

jam quidam, cum gladiis et armorum incussu praecipitati, 
sudibus et pilis obruuntur, praeferoces initio et rebus se- 
cundis nimii. Sed turn praedae cupidine adversa quoque 
tolerabant. Machinas etiam, insolitum sibi, ausi ; nee ulla 
ipsis sollertia : perfugae captivique docebant struere ma- 5 
terias in modum pontis, mox subjectis rotis propellere, ut 
alii superstantes tanquam ex aggere proeliarentur, pars 
intus occulti muros subruerent. Sed excussa ballistis saxa 
stravere informe opus : et crates vineasque parantibus 
adactae tormentis ardentes hastae, ultroque ipsi oppugna- 10 
tores ignibus petebantur, donee desperata vi verterent con- 
silium ad moras, haud ignari paucorum dierum inesse ali- 
menta et multum imbellis turbae. Simul ex inopia proditio 
et fluxa servitiorum fides ac fortuita belli sperabantur. 

XXI Y. Flaccus interim, cognito castrorum obsidio, et 15 
missis per Gallias qui auxilia concirent, lectos e legionibus 
Dillio Yoculae duodevicesimae legionis legato tradit, ut 
quam maximis per ripam itineribus celeraret, ipse navibus# 
invalidus corpore, invisus militibus : neque enim ambigue 
fremebant, emissas a Magontiaco Batavorum cohortes, dis- 20 
simulatos Civilis conatus, asciri in societatem Germanos : 
non Primi Antonii neque Muciani ope Yespasianum magis 
adolevisse : aperta odia armaque palam depelli : fraudem et 
dolum obscura, eoque inevitabilia. Civilem stare contra, 
struere aciem : Hordeonium e cubiculo et lectulo jubere, 25 
quicquid hosti conducat. Tot armatas fortissimorum viro- 
rum manus unius senis valetudine regi. Quin potius, inter- 
fecto traditore, fortunam virtutemque suam malo omine 
exsolverent. His inter se vocibus instinctos flammavere 
insuper allatae a Yespasiano literae, quas Flaccus, quia 30 
occultari nequibant, pro concione recitavit, vinctosque, qui 
attulerant, ad Yitellium misit. 

XXY. Sic mitigatis animis Bonnam, hiberna primae 
legionis, ventum. Infensior illic miles culpam cladis in Hor- 
deonium vertebat: "ejus jussu directam adversus Batavos 35 
aciem, tanquam a Magontiaco legiones sequerentur; ejus- 
dem proditione caesos, nullis supervenientibus auxiliis. 
Ignota haec ceteris exercitibus, neque imperatori suo nun- 



180 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

tiari, cum accursu tot provinciarum exstingui repens per- 
fidia potuerit." Hordeonius exemplares omnium literarum, 
quibus per Gallias Britanniamque et Hispanias auxilia ora- 
bat, exercitui recitavit instituitque pessimum facinus, ut 
5 epistolae aquiliferis legionum traderentur, a quis ante militi 
quam ducibus legebantur. Turn e seditiosis unum vinciri 
jubet, magis usurpandi juris quam quia unius culpa foret. 
Motusque Bonna exercitus in coloniam Agrippinensem, af- 
fluentibus auxiliis Gallorum, qui primo rem Romanam enixe 

10 juvabant : mox, valescentibus Germanis, pleraeque civitates 
adversum nos armatae spe libertatis, et, si exuissent servi- 
tium, cupidine imperitandi. Gliscebat iracundia legionum, 
nee terrorem unius militis vincula indiderant : quin idem 
ille arguebat ultro conscientiam ducis, tanquam nuntius 

15 inter Civilem Flaccumque falso crimine testis veri opp^ime- 
retur. Conscendit tribunal Vocula mira constantia, pre- 
hensumque mil item ac vociferantem duci ad supplicium 
jussit : et dum mali parent, optimus quisque jussis paru- 
ere. Exin consensu ducem Voculam poscentibus, Flaccus 

20 summam rerum ei permisit. 

XXVI. Sed discordes animos multa efferabant, inopia 
stipendii frumentique, et simul delectum tributaque Gal- 
liae aspernantes, Rhenus incognita illi coelo siccitate vix 
navium patiens, arcti commeatus, dispositae per omnem 

25 ripam stationes quae Germanos vado arcerent, eademque 
de causa minus frugum, et plures qui consumerent. Apud 
imperitos prodigii loco accipiebatur ipsa aquarum penuria, 
tanquam nos amnes quoque et vetera imperii munimenta 
desererent : quod in pace fors seu natura, tunc fatum et ira 

30 dei vocabatur. Ingressis Novesium sextadecima legio con- 
jungitur. Additus Yoculae in partem curarum Herennius 
Gallus legatus ; nee ausi ad hostem pergere, loco cui Gel- 
duba nomen est castra fecere. Ibi struenda acie, muni- 
endo vallandoque et ceteris belli meditamentis militem fir- 

35 mabant ; utque praeda ad virtutem accenderetur, in proxi- 
mos Gugernorum pagos, qui societatem Civilis acceperant, 
ductus a Vocula exercitus. Pars cum Herennio Gallo per- 
mansit. 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX. 181 

XXVII. Forte navem haud procul castris, frumento gra- 
vem, cum per vada haesisset, Germani in suam ripam tra- 
hebant. Non tulit Gallus, misitque subsidio eohortem. 
Auctus et Germanorum numerus, paulatimque aggreganti- 
bus se auxiliis acie certatum. Germani multa cum strage 5 
nostrorum navem abripiunt. Yicti (quod turn in morem 
verterat) non suam ignaviam, sed perfidiam legati culpa- 
bant. Protractum e tentorio, scissa veste, verberato corpore, 
quo pretio, quibus consciis prodidisset exercitum, dicere 
jubent. Redit in Hordeonium invidia. Ilium auctorem 10 
sceleris, hunc ministrum vocant, donee exitium minitantibus 
exterritus proditionem et ipse Hordeonio objecit ; vinctus- 
que, adventu demum Voculae exsolvitur. Is postera die 
auctores seditionis morte affecit. Tanta illi exercitui diver- 
sitas inerat licentiae patientiaeque. Haud dubie gregarius 15 
miles Vitellio fidus ; splendidissimus quisque in Vespasia- 
num proni : inde scelerum ac suppliciorum vices, et mixtus 
obsequio furor, ut contineri non possent, qui puniri poterant. 

XXVIII. At Civilem immensis auctibus universa Ger- 
mania extollebat, societate nobilissimis obsidum firmata. 20 
Ille, ut cuique proximum, vastari Ubios Treverosque, et 
alia manu Mosam amnem transire jubet ut Menapios et 
Morinos et extrema Galliarum quateret. Actae utrobique 
praedae, infestius in Ubiis, quod gens Germanicae originis, 
ejurata patria, Romanorum nomen Agrippinenses vocaren- 25 
tur. Caesae cohortes eorum, in vico Marcoduro incuriosius 
agentes, quia procul ripa aberant. Nee quievere Ubii, quo 
minus praedas e Germania peterent, primo impune, dein 
circumventi sunt, per omne id bellum meliore usi fide quam 
fortuna. Contusis Ubiis gravior et successu rerum ferocior 30 
Civilis obsidium legionum urgebat, intentis custodiis, ne quis 
occultus nuntius venientis auxilii penetraret. Machinas mo- 
lemque operum Batavis delegat : Transrhenanos proelium 
poscentes, ad scindendum vallum ire detrusosque redinte- 
grare certamen jubet, superante multitudine et facili damno : 35 
nee finem labori nox attulit. 

XXIX. Congestis circum lignis accensisque, simul epu- 
lantes, ut quisque vino incaluerat, ad pugnam temeritate 

16 



182 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

inani ferebantur. Quippe ipsorum tela per tenebras vana : 
Romani conspicuam barbarorum ticiera, et si quis audacia 
aut insignibus effulgens, ad ictum destinabant. Intellectum 
id Civili, et restincto igne misceri cuncta tenebris et armis 
5 jubet. Turn vero strepitus dissoni, casus incerti, neque 
feriendi neque declinandi providentia. Unde clamor acci- 
derat, circumagere corpora, tendere arcus : nihil prodesse 
virtus, fors cuncta turbare et ignavorum saepe telis fortis- 
simi cadere. Apud Germanos inconsulta ira: Romanus 

10 miles periculorum gnarus ferratas sudes, gravia saxa non 
forte jaciebat. Ubi sonus molientium aut appositae scalae 
hostem in manus dederant, propellere umbone, pilo sequi ; 
multos, in moenia egressos, pugionibus fodere. Sic ex- 
hausta nocte, novam aciem dies aperuit. 

15 XXX. Eduxerant Batavi turrim duplici tabulato, quam 
praetoriae portae (is aequissimus locus) propinquantem, 
promoti contra validi asseres et incussae trabes perfregere, 
multa superstantium pernicie : pugnatumque in perculsos 
subita et prospera eruptione. Simul a legionariis peritia et 

20 arte praestantibus, plura struebantur. Praecipuum pavo- 
rem intulit suspensum et nutans machinamentum, quo re- 
pente demisso, praeter suorum ora singuli pluresve hostium 
sublime rapti, verso pondere intra castra effundebantur. 
Civilis, omissa oppugnandi spe, rursus per otium assidebat, 

25 nuntiis et promissis fidem legionum convellens. 

XXXI. Haec in Germania ante Cremonense proelium 
gesta, cujus eventum literae Primi Antonii docuere, addito 
Caecinae edicto. Et praefectus cohortis e victis Alpinus 
Montanus, fortunam partium praesens fatebatur. Diversi 

30 hinc motus animorum. Auxilia e Gallia, quis nee amor 
neque odium in partes, militia sine affectu, hortantibus 
praefectis statim a Vitellio desciscunt : vetus miles cuncta- 
batur. Sed adigente Hordeonio Flacco, instantibus tri- 
bunis, dixit sacramentum, non vultu neque animo satis 

35 affirmans ; et cum cetera jurisjurandi verba conciperent, 
Vespasiani nomen haesitantes aut levi murmure et plerum- 
que silentio transmittebant. 

XXXII. Lectae deinde pro concione epistolae Antonii ad 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XXXIII. 183 

Civilem suspiciones militum irritavere, tanquam ad socium 
partium scriptae, et de Germanico exercitu hostiliter. Mox 
allatis Geldubam in castra nuntiis, eadem dicta factaque, 
et missus cum mandatis Montanus ad Civilem, ut absisteret 
bello neve externa armis falsis velaret ; si Yespasianum 5 
juvare aggressus foret, satisfactum coeptis. Ad ea Civilis 
primo callide : post, ubi videt Montanum praeferocem in- 
genio paratumque in res novas, orsus a questu periculisque, 
quae per quinque et viginti annos in castris Romanis exhau- 
sisset, "Egregium/'inquit, " pretium laborum recepi, necem 10 
fratris et vincula mea et saevissimas hujus exercitus voces, 
quibus ad supplicium petitus, jure gentium poenas reposco. 
Vos autem Treveri ceteraeque servientium animae, quod 
praemium effusi totiens sanguinis exspectatis, nisi ingratam 
militiam, immortalia tributa, virgas, secures et dominorum 15 
ingenia ? En ego praefectus unius cohortis et Cannine- 
fates Batavique, exigua Galliarum portio, vana ilia castro- 
rum spatia excidimus, vel septa ferro fameque premimus : 
denique ausos aut libertas sequetur, aut victi iidem erimus." 
Sic accensum, sed molliora referre jussum dimittit. Ille 20 
ut irritus legationis redit, cetera dissimulans, quae mox 
erupere. 

XXXIII. Civilis, parte copiarum retenta, veteranas co- 
hortes et quod e Germanis maxime promptum, adversus 
Voculam exercitumque ejus raittit, Julio Maximo et Clau- 25 
dio Victore, sororis suae filio, ducibus. Rapiunt in transitu 
hiberna alae Asciburgii sita ; adeoque improvisi castra in- 
volavere, ut non alloqui, non pandere aciem Vocula potuerit. 
Id solum, ut in tumultu, monuit, subsignano milite media 
firmare : auxilia passim circumfusa sunt. Eques prorupit, 30 
exceptusque compositis hostium ordinibus terga in suos ver- 
tit. Caedes inde, non proelium. Et Nerviorum cohortes, 
metu seu perfidia, latera nostrorum nudavere. Sic ad le- 
giones perventum : quae, amissis signis, intra vallum ster- 
nebantur, cum repente novo auxilio fortuna pugnae mutatur. 35 
Vasconum lectae a Galba cohortes ac turn accitae, dum 
castris propinquant, audito proeliantium clamore, intentos 
hostes a tergo invadunt, latioremque quam pro numero 



184 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 822. 

terrorem faciunt, aliis a Novesio, aliis a Magontiaco univer- 
sas copias advenisse credentibus. Is error Romanis addit 
animos, et, dum alienis virfbus confidunt, suas recepere. 
Fortissimus quisque e Batavis, quantum peditum erat, fun- 
5 duntur : eques evasit cum signis captivisque, quos prima 
acie corripuerant. Caesorum eo die in partibus nostris ma- 
jor numerus et imbellior ; e Germanis ipsa robora. 

XXXIV. Dux uterque, pari culpa meritus adversa, pros- 
peris defuere. Nam Civilis, si majoribus copiis instruxisset 

10 aciem, circumiri a tarn paucis cohortibus nequisset, castra- 
que perrupta exscidisset. Vocula nee adventum hostium 
exploravit, eoque simul egressus victusque ; dein victoriae 
parum confisus, tritis frustra diebus castra in hostem mo- 
vit, quern si statim impellere cursumque rerum sequi matu- 

15 rasset, solvere obsidium legionum eodem impetu potuit. 
Tentaverat interim Civilis obsessorum animos, tanquam per- 
ditae apud Romanos res et suis victoria provenisset. Cir- 
cumferebantur signa vexillaque ; ostentati etiam captivi, 
ex quibus unus, egregium facinus ausus, clara voce gesta 

20 patefecit, confossus illico a Germanis ; unde major indici 
fides. Simul vastatione incendiisque flagrantium villarum, 
venire victorem exercitum intelligebatur. In conspectu 
castrorum constitui signa, fossamque et vallum circumdari 
Vocula jubet : depositis impedimentis sarcinisque expediti 

25 certarent. Hinc in ducem clamor pugnam poscentium ; et 
minari assueverant. Ne tempore quidem ad ordinandam 
aciem capto, incompositi fessique proelium sumpsere : nam 
Civilis aderat, non minus vitiis hostium quam virtute suo- 
rum fretus. Varia apud Romanos fortuna, et seditiosissi- 

30 mus quisque ignavus : quidam recentis victoriae memores 
retinere locum, ferire hostem, seque et proximos hortari : et 
redintegrata acie, manus ad obsessos tendere, ne tempori 
deessent. llli cuncta e muris cernentes, omnibus portis 
prorumpunt. Ac forte Civilis lapsu equi prostratus, credita 

35 per utrumque exercitum fama vulneratum aut interfectum, 
immane quantum suis pavoris et hostibus alacritatis indi- 
dit. 

XXXV. Sed Vocula, omissis fugientium tergis, vallum 



A. C. 69.] LIBER IV. CAP. XXXVI. 185 

turresque castrorum augebat, tanquam rursus obsidium 
immineret, corrupta totiens victoria non falso suspectus 
bellum malle. Nihil aeque exercitus nostros quam egestas 
copiarum fatigabat. Impedimenta legionum cum imbelli 
turba Novesium missa, ut inde terrestri itinere frumentum 5 
adveherent : nam flumine hostes potiebantur. Primum 
agmen securum incessit, nondum satis firmo Civile ; qui, 
ubi rursum missos Novesium frumentatores datasque in 
praesidium cohortes velut multa pace ingredi accepit, rarum 
apud signa militem, arma in vehiculis, cunctos licentia va- 10 
gos, compositus invadit, praemissis, qui pontes et viarum 
angusta insiderent. Pugnatum longo agmine et incerto 
Marte, donee proelium nox dirimeret. Cohortes Geldubam 
perrexere, manentibus, ut fuerant, castris, quae relictorum 
illic militum praesidio tenebantur. Non erat dubium, quan- 15 
turn in regressu discriminis adeundum foret, frumentatori- 
bus onustis perculsisque. Addit exercitui suo Yocula mille 
delectos e quinta et quintadecima legionibus apud Vetera 
obsessis, indomitum militem et ducibus infensum. Plures 
quam jussum erat profecti palam in agmine fremebant non 20 
se ultra famem, insidias legatorum toleraturos. At qui 
remanserant, desertos se abducta parte legionum quere- 
bantur. Duplex hinc seditio, aliis revocantibus Voculam, 
aliis redire in castra abnuentibus. 

XXXVI. Interim Civilis Vetera circumsedit. Vocula 25 
Geldubam atque inde Novesium concessit. Civilis capit 
Geldubam. Mox haud procul Novesio equestri proelio 
prospere certavit. Sed miles secundis adversisque perinde 
in exitium ducum accendebatur. Et adventu quintanorum 
quintadecimanorumque auctae legiones donativum expos- 30 
cunt, comperto pecuniam a Vitellio missam. Nee diu 
cunctatus Hordeonius nomine Vespasiani dedit. Idque 
praecipuum fuit seditionis alimentum. Effusi in luxum et 
epulas et nocturnos coetus, veterem in Hordeonium iram 
renovant, nee ullo legatorum tribunorumve obsistere auso 35 
(quippe omnem pudorem nox ademerat) protractum e cubili 
interficiunt. Eadem in Voculam parabantur, nisi servili 
habitu per tenebras ignoratus evasisset. Ubi, sedato im- 

16* 



186 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

petu, metus rediit, centuriones cum epistolis ad civitates 
Galliarum misere, auxilia ac stipendia oraturos. 

XXXVII. Ipsi, ut est vulgus sine rectore praeceps, pavi- 
dum, socors, adventante Civile, raptis temere armis ac 

5 statim omissis, in fugam vertuntur. Res adversae discor- 
diam peperere, iis, qui e superiore exercitu erant, causam 
suam dissociantibus. Vitellii tamen imagines in castris et 
per proximas Belgarum civitates repositae, cum jam Vitel- 
lius occidisset. Dein mutati in poenitentiam primani quar- 

10 tanique et duodevicesimani Voculam sequuntur ; apud 
quem, resumpto Vespasiani sacramento, ad liberandum 
Magontiaci obsidium ducebantur. Discesserant obsessores, 
mixtus ex Cattis, Usipiis, Mattiacis exercitus, satietate 
praedae nee incruenti. In via dispersos et nescios miles 

15 noster invaserat. Quin et loricam vallumque per fines 
suos Treveri struxere, magnisque invicem cladibus cum 
Germanis certabant, donee egregia erga populum Roma- 
nian merita mox rebelles foedarent. 

XXXVIII. Interea Vespasianus iterum ac Titus consula- 
20 turn absentes inierunt, maesta et multiplici metu suspensa 

civitate, quae super instantia mala falsos pavores induerat, 
descivisse Africam, res novas moliente L. Pisone. Is prae- 
erat provinciae, nequaquam turbidus ingenio : sed quia 
naves saevitia hiemis prohibebantur, vulgus alimenta in 

25 dies mercari solitum, cui una ex republica annonae cura, 
clausum littus, retineri commeatus, dum timet, credebat, 
augentibus famam Vitellianis, qui studium partium nondum 
posuerant, nee victoribus quidem ingrato rumore, quorum 
cupiditates, externis quoque bellis inexplebiles, nulla un- 

30 quam civilis victoria satiavit. 

XXXIX. Kalendis Januariis in Senatu, quem Julius Fron- 
tinus praetor urbanus vocaverat, legatis exercitibusque ac 
regibus laudes gratesque decretae : et Tertio Juliano prae- 
tura, tanquam transgredientem in partes Vespasiani legio- 

35 nem deseruisset, ablata, ut in Plotium Griphum transferre- 
tur. Hormo dignitas equestris data. Et mox ejurante 
Frontino, Caesar Domitianus praeturam cepit. Ejus nomen 
epistolis edictisque praeponebatur, vis penes Mucianum 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. XL. 187 

erat, nisi quod pleraque Domitianus, instigantibus amicis 
aut propria libidine, audebat. Sed praecipmis Muciano 
metus e Primo Antonio Varoque Arrio, quos recentes cla- 
rosque rerum fama ac militum studiis etiam populus fove- 
bat, quia in neminem ultra aciem saevierant. Et ferebatur 5 
Antonius Scribonianum Crassum, egregiis majoribusque et 
fraterna imagine fulgentem, ad capessendam rempublicam 
hortatus, haud defutura consciorum manu, ni Scribonianus 
abnuisset, ne paratis quidem corrumpi facilis, adeo metuens 
incerta. Igitur Mucianus, quia propalam opprimi Antonius 10 
nequibat, multis in senatu laudibus cumulatum secretis 
promissis onerat, citeriorem Hispaniam ostentans discessu 
Cluvii Rufi vacuam ; simul amicis ejus tribunatus praefec- 
turasque largitur. Dein postquam inanem animum spe et 
cupidine impleverat, vires abolet, dimissa in hiberna legione 15 
septima, cujus flagrantissimus in Antonium amor. Ettertia 
legio, Tamiliaris Arrio Yaro miles, in Syriam remissa. Pars 
exercitus in Germanias ducebatur. Sic egesto quicquid tur- 
bidum, redit urbi sua forma legesque et munia magistratuum. 

XL. Quo die senatum ingressus est Domitianus, de ab- 20 
sentia patris fratrisque ac juventa sua pauca et modica 
disseruit, decorus habitu ; et ignotis adhuc moribus, crebra 
oris confusio pro modestia accipiebatur. Referente Caes- 
are de restituendis Galbae honoribus, censuit Curtius 
Montanus, ut Pisonis quoque memoria celebraretur. Patres 25 
utrumque jussere : de Pisone irritum fuit. Turn sorte ducti, 
per quos redderentur bello rapta, quique aera legum vetus- 
tate delapsa noscerent figerentque, et fastos, adulatione 
temporum foedatos, exonerarent, modumque publicis im- 
pensis facerent. Redditur Tertio Juliano praetura, post- 30 
quam cognitus est ad Yespasianum confugisse : Gripho 
honor mansit. Repeti inde cognitionem inter Musonium 
Rufum et P. Celerem placuit, damnatusque Publius et 
Sorani manibus satisfactum. Insignis publica severitate 
dies, ne privatim quidem laude caruit. Justum judicium 35 
explesse Musonius videbatur : diversa fama Demetrio, Cy- 
nicam sectam professo, quod manifestum reum ambitiosius 
quam honestius defendisset: ipsi Publio neque animus in 



188 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

periculis neque oratio suppeditavit. Signo ultionis in ac- 
cusatores dato, petit a Caesare Junius Mauricus, ut com- 
mentariorum principalium potestatem senatui faceret, per 
quos nosceret, quern quisque accusandum poposcisset. 
5 Consulendum tali super re Principem respondit. 

XLI. Senatus, inchoantibus primoribus, jusjurandum con- 
cepit, quo certatim omnes magistratus, ceteri ut sententiam 
rogabantur, deos testes advocabant nihil ope sua factum, 
quo cujusquam salus laederetur, neque se praemium aut 

10 honorem ex calamitate civium cepisse, trepidis et verba ju- 
risjurandi per varias artes mutantibus, quis flagitii conscien- 
tia inerat. Probabant religionem patres, perjurium argue- 
bant. Eaque velut censura in Sariolenum Yoculam et No- 
nium Actianum et Cestium Severum acerrime incubuit, 

15 crebris apud Neronem delationibus famosos. Sariolenum 
et recens crimen urgebat, quod apud Vitellium molitus 
eadem foret : nee destitit senatus manus intentare Voculae, 
donee curia excederet. Ad Pactium Africanum transgressi 
eum quoque proturbant, tanquam Neroni Scribonios fratres 

20 concordia opibusque insignes ad exitium monstravisset. 
Africanus neque fateri audebat neque abnuere poterat : in 
Vibium Crispum, cujus interrogationibus fatigabatur, ultro 
conversus, miscendo quae defendere nequibat, societate cul- 
pae invidiam declinavit. 

25 XLII. Magnam eo die pietatis eloquentiaeque famam 
Vipstanus Messala adeptus est, nondum senatoria aetate, 
ausus pro fratre Aquilio Regulo deprecari. Regulum sub- 
versa Crassorum et Orfiti domus in summum odium extu- 
lerat. Sponte ex senatus consulto accusationem subisse 

30 juvenis admodum, nee depellendi periculi, sed in spem po- 
tentiae videbatur. Et Sulpicia Praetextata Crassi uxor 
quatuorque liberi, si cognosceret senatus, ultores aderant. 
Igitur Messala non causam neque reum tueri, sed periculis 
fratris semet opponens, flexerat quosdam. Occurrit truci 

35 oratione Curtius Montanus, eo usque progressus, ut post 
caedem Galbae, datam interfectori Pisonis pecuniam a Reg- 
ulo, appetitumque morsu Pisonis caput objectaret. " Hoc 
certe," inquit, "Nero non coegit, nee dignitatem aut salu- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. XLIII. 189 

tern ilia saevitia redemisti. Sane tolerenius istorum defen- 
siones, qui perdere alios quam periclitari ipsi maluerunt. Te 
securum reliquerat exsul pater et divisa inter creditores bona, 
nondum honorum capax aetas, nihil quod ex te concupis- 
ceret Nero, nihil quod timeret. Libidine sanguinis et hiatu 5 
praemiorum ignotum adhuc ingenium et nullis defensioni- 
bus expertum caede nobili imbuisti, cum ex funere reipub- 
licae raptis consularibus spoliis, septuagies sestertio sagina- 
tus et sacerdotio fulgens, innoxios pueros, illustres senes, 
conspicuas feminas eadem ruina prosterneres ; cum segni- 10 
tiam Neronis incusares, quod per singulas domos seque et 
delatores fatigaret : posse univer$um senatum una voce 
subverti. Retinete, patres conscripti, et reservate hominem 
tarn expediti consilii, ut omnis aetas instructa sit, et quo- 
modo senes nostri Marcellum, Crispum, juvenes Regulum 15 
imitentur. Invenit etiam aemulos infelix nequitia : quid si 
floreat vigeatque ? Et quern adhuc quaestorium offendere 
non audemus, praetorium et consularem visuri sumus ? An 
Neronem extremum dominorum putatis ? Idem credide- 
rant, qui Tiberio, qui Caio superstites fuerunt, cum interim 20 
intestabilior et saevior exortus est. Non timemus Vespa- 
sianum : ea Principis aetas, ea moderatio. Sed diutius 
durant exempla quam mores. Elanguimus, patres conscrip- 
ti, nee jam ille senatus sumus, qui occiso Nerone, delatores 
et minis tros more majorum puniendos flagitabat. Optimus 25 
est post malum principem dies primus. " 

XLIII. Tanto cum assensu senatus auditus est Montanus, 
ut spem caperet Helvidius posse etiam Marcellum prosterni. 
Igitur a laude Cluvii Rufi orsus, qui perinde dives et elo- 
quentia clarus nulli unquam sub Nerone periculum facessis- 30 
set, crimine simul exemploque Eprium urgebat, ardentibus pa- 
trum animis. Quod ubi sensit Marcellus, velut excedens curia : 
" Imus," inquit, " Prisce, et relinquimus tibi senatum tuum : 
regna, praesente Caesare." Sequebatur Vibius Crispus, ambo 
infensi, vultu diverso, Marcellus minacibus oculis, Crispus re- 35 
nidens, donee accursu amicorum retraherentur. Cum glis- 
ceret certamen, hinc multi bonique, inde pauci et validi per- 
tinacibus odiis tenderent, consumptus per discordiam dies. 



190 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

XLIV. Proximo senatu, inchoante Caesare de abolendo 
dolore iraque et priorum temporum necessitatibus, censuit 
Mucianus prolixe pro accusatoribus : simul eos qui coep- 
tam, deinde omissam actionem repeterent, monuit sermone 
5 molli et tanquam rogaret. Patres coeptatam libertatem, 
postquam obviam itum, omisere. Mucianus, ne sperni sena- 
tus judicium et cunctis sub Nerone admissis data impunitas 
videretur, Octavium Sagittam et Antistium Sosianum sena- 
torii ordinis egressos exsilium in easdem insulas redegit. Oc- 

10 tavius Pontiam Postumiam, stupro cognitam et nuptias suas 
abnuentem, impotens amoris interfecerat ; Sosianus pravi- 
tate morum multis exitiosus. Ambo gravi senatus consulto 
damnati pulsique, quamvis concesso aliis reditu, in eadem 
poena retenti sunt. Nee ideo lenita erga Mucianum invidia. 

15 Quip pe Sosianus ac Sagitta viles, etiam si reverterentur : 
accusatorum ingenia et opes et exercita malis artibus po- 
tentia timebantur. 

XLV. Reconciliavit paulisper studia patrum habita in 
senatu cognitio secundum veterem morem. Manlius Patru- 

20 itus senator pulsatum se in colonia Seniensi coetu multitu- 
dinis et jussu magistratuum querebatur ; nee finem injuriae 
hie stetisse : planctum et lamenta et supremorum imaginem 
praesenti sibi circumdata cum contumeliis ac probris, quae 
in senatum universum jacerentur. Yocati, qui arguebantur, 

25 et cognita causa, in convictos vindicatum. Additumque 

senatus consultum, quo Seniensium plebes modestiae ad- 

moneretur. Iisdem diebus Antonius Flamma Cyrenensibus 

damnatur lege repetundarum, et exsilio ob saevitiam. 

XLYI. Inter quae militaris seditio prope exarsit. Prae- 

30 torianam militiam repetebant a Vitellio dimissi, pro Vespa- 
siano congregati ; et lectus in eandem spem e legionibus 
miles promissa stipendia flagitabat: ne Vitelliani quidem 
sine multa caede pelli poterant ; sed immensa pecunia fere- 
batur, qua tanta vis hominum retinenda erat. Ingressus 

35 castra Mucianus, quo rectius stipendia singulorum specta- 
ret, suis cum insignibus armisque victores constituit, modi- 
cis inter se spatiis discretos. Turn Vitelliani, quos apud 
Bovillas in deditionem acceptos memoravimus, ceterique 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. XLVII, XLVIII. 191 

per urbem et urbi vicina conquisiti producuntur prope in- 
tecto corpore. Eos Mucianus diduci, et Germanieum Brit- 
annicumque militem, ac si qui aliorum exercituum, separatim 
assistere jubet. Illos primus statim aspectus obstupefecerat, 
cum ex diverso velut aciem telis et armis trucem, semet 5 
clausos nudosque et illuvie deformes aspicerent. Ut vero 
hue illuc distrahi eoepere, metus per omnes et praecipua 
Germanici militis formido, tanquam ea separatione ad cae- 
dem destinarentur : prensare commanipularium pectora, 
cervicibus innecti, suprema oscula petere, ne desererentur 10 
soli, neu pari causa disparem fortunam paterentur : modo 
Mucianum, modo absentem Principem, postremum coelum 
ac deos obtestari, donee Mucianus cunctos ejusdem sacra- 
menti, ejusdem Imperatoris milites appellans, falso timori 
obviam iret. Namque et victor exercitus clamore lacrimas 15 
e or urn juvabat. Isque finis ilia die. Paucis post diebus, 
alloquentem Domitianum firmati jam excepere. Spernunt 
oblatos agros, militiam et stipendia orant. Preces erant, 
sed quibus contradici non posset : igitur in praetorium ac- 
cepti. Dein quibus aetas et justa stipendia, dimissi cum 20 
honore, alii ob culpam, sed carptim ac singuli ; quo tutissi- 
mo remedio consensus multitudinis extenuatur. 

XL VII. Ceterum verane pauperie an uti videretur, ac- 
tum in senatu, ut sexcenties sestertium a privatis mutuum 
acciperetur; praepositusque ei curae Pompeius Silvanus : 25 
Dec multo post necessitas abiit, sive omissa simulatio. Ab- 
rogati inde, legem ferente Domitiano, consulatus, quos Vi- 
tellius dederat, funusque censorium Flavio Sabino ductum, 
magna documenta instabilis fortunae summaque et ima 
miscentis. 30 

XLVIII. Sub idem tempus L. Piso proconsul interficitur. 
Ea de caede quam verissime expediam, si pauca supra re- 
petiero, ab initio causisque talium facinorum non absurda. 
Legio in Africa auxiliaque tutandis imperii finibus, sub divo 
Augusto Tiberioque principibus, proconsuli parebant. Mox 35 
Caius Caesar turbidus animi, ac M. Silanum obtinentem 
Africam metuens, ablatam proconsuli legionem misso in 
earn rem legato tradidit. Aequatus inter duos beneficiorum 



192 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

numerus, et mixtis utriusque mandatis discordia quaesita 
auctaque pravo certamine. Legatorum vis adolevit diutur- 
nitate officii vol quia minoribus major aemulandi cura ; pro- 
consulum splendidissimus quisque securitati magis quara 
5 potentiae consulebant. 

XLIX. Sod turn le^ionem in Africa re^ebat Valerius 
Festus, sumptuosae adolescentiae neque modica cupiens, et 
affinitate Yitellii anxius. Is crebris sermonibus tentave- 
ritne Pisonem ad res novas an tentanti restiterit, incertum, 

10 quoniam secreto eorum nemo affuit, et occiso Pisone ple- 
rique ad gratiam interfectoris inclinavere. Nee ambigitur 
provinciam et militem alienato erga Vespasianum animo 
fuisse : et quidam e Vitellianis urbe profugi ostentabant 
Pisoni nutantes Gallias, para tarn Germaniam, pericula ip- 

15 sius, et in pace suspecto tutius bellum. Inter quae Clau- 
dius Sagitta praefectus alae Petrinae prospera navigatione 
praevenit Papirium centurionem a Muciano missum, asse- 
veravitque mandata interficiendi Pisonis centurioni data ; 
cecidisse Galerianum, consobrinumejusgenerumque : unam 

20 in audacia spem salutis, sed duo itinera audendi, seu mal- 
let statim arma, seu petita navibus Gallia, ducem se Vitel- 
lianis exercitibus ostenderet. Nihil ad ea moto Pisone, 
centurio a Muciano missus, ut portum Carthaginis attigit, 
magna voce laeta Pisoni omnia, tanquam principi, conti- 

25 nuare ; obvios et subitae rei miraculo attonitos, ut eadem 
astreperent, hortari: vulgus credulum ruere in forum, 
praesentiam Pisonis exposcere. Gaudio clamoribusque 
cuncta miscebant, indiligentia veri et adulandi libidine. 
Piso, indicio Sagittae vel insita modestia, non in publicum 

30 egressus est neque se studiis vulgi permisit : centurio- 
nemque percunctatus, postquam quaesitum sibi crimen 
caedemque comperit, animadverti in eum jussit, haud pe- 
rinde spe vitae quam ira in percussorem, quod idem ex in- 
terfectoribus Clodii Macri cruentas legati sanguine manus 

35 ad caedem proconsulis retulisset. Anxio deinde edicto 
Carthaginiensibus increpitis, ne solita quidem munia usur- 
pabat, clausus intra domum, ne qua motus novi causa vel 
forte oreretur. 



A. C. 70,] LIBER IV, CAP. L, LI, 193 

L. Sed ubi Fes to consternatio vulgi, centurionis sup- 
plicium, veraque et falsa more famae in majus innotuere, 
equites in necem Pisonis mittit. Illi raptim vecti, obscuro 
adhue coeptae lucis domum proconsulis irrumpunt, destric- 
tis gladiis, et magna pars Pisonis ignari, quod Poenos 5 
auxiliares Maurosque in earn eaedem delegerat : baud pro- 
cul cubiculo obvium forte servum, quisnam, et ubi esset 
Piso, interrogavere. Servus egregio mendacio se Pisonem 
esse respondit ; ae statim obtruncatur : nee multo post Piso 
interficitur. Namque aderat, qui nosceret, Bebius Massa 10 
e procuratoribus Africae, jam tunc optimo cuique exitiosus, 
et in causas malorum, quae mox tulimus, saepius rediturus. 
Festus Adrumeto, ubi speculabundus substiterat, ad legi- 
onem contendit, praefectumque castrorum Cetronium Pisa- 
num vinciri jussit, proprias ob simultates : sed Pisonis sa- 15 
tellitem vocabat, militesque et centuriones quosdam puniit, 
alios praemiis afFecit, neutrum ex merito, sed ut oppressisse 
bellum crederetur. Mox Oeensium Leptitanorumque dis- 
eordias componit, quae raptu frugum et pecorum inter 
agrestes, modicis principiis, jam per arma atque acies exer- 20 
cebantur. Nam populus Oeensis multitudine inferior Gar- 
amantas exciverat, gentem indomitam et inter accolas latro- 
einiis fecundam. Unde arctae Leptitanis res, lateque vastatis 
agris intra moenia trepidabant, donee interventu cohortium 
alarumque fusi Garamantes et recepta omnis praeda, nisi 25 
quam vagi per inaccessa mapalium ulterioribus vendiderant. 

LI. At Vespasiano post Gremonensem pugnam et pros- 
peros undique nuntios, cecidisse Vitellium multi cuj usque 
ordinis, pari audacia fortunaque hibernum mare aggressi, 
nuntiavere. Aderant legati regis Yologesi, quadraginta 30 
Partborum equitum millia ofFerentes. Magnificum laetum- 
que tantis sociorum auxiliis ambiri neque indigere. Gratiae 
Vologeso actae, mandatumque ut legatos ad senatum 
mitteret et pacem esse sciret. Vespasianus in Italiam 
resque urbis intentus, adversam de Domitiano famam acci- 35 
pit, tanquam terminos aetatis et concessa filio egrederetur. 
Igitur validissimam exercitus partem Tito tradit ad reliqua 
Judaici belli perpetranda. 

11 



C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. u. 823. 

LII. Titum, antequam digrederetur, multo apud patrem 
sermone orasse dicebatur, ne criminantium nuntiis temere 
accenderetur, integrumque se ac placabilem filio praestaret. 
Non legiones, non classes perinde firma imperii munimenta 
5 quam numerum liberorum. Nam amicos tempore, fortuna, 
cupidinibus aliquando aut erroribus imminui, transferri, de- 
sinere : suum cuique sanguinem indiscretum, sed maxime 
principibus, quorum prosperis et alii fruantur, adversa ad 
junctissimos pertineant : ne fratribus quidem mansuram 

3 concordiam, ni parens exemplum praebuisset. Yespasianus 
haud aeque Domitiano mitigatus quam Titi pietate gaudens, 
bono esse animo jubet, belloque et armis rempublicam attol- 
lere : sibi pacem domumque curae fore. Turn celerrimas 
navium frumento onustas saevo adhuc mari committit. 

15 Quippe tanto discrimine Urbs nutabat, ut decern baud am- 
plius dierum frumentum in horreis fuerit, cum a Vespasiano 
commeatus subvenere. 

LIU. Curam restituendiCapitolii in L. Vestinum confert, 
equestris ordinis virum, sed auctoritate famaque inter pro- 

20 ceres. Ab eo contracti haruspices monuere, ut reliquiae 
prioris delubri in paludes aveherentur, templum iisdem ves- 
tigiis sisteretur : nolle deos mutari veterem formam. Un- 
decimo Kalendas Julias serena luce spatium omne, quod 
templo dicabatur, evinctum vittis coronisque. Ingressi mili- 

25 tes, quis fausta nomina, felicibus ramis : dein virgines Yes- 
tales, cum pueris puellisque patrimis matrimisque, aqua vivis 
e fontibus amnibusque hausta perluere. Turn Helvidius 
Priscus praetor, praeeunte Plautio Aeliano pontifice, lustrata 
suovetaurilibus area et super cespitem redditis extis, Jovem, 

30 Junonem, Minervam praesidesque imperii deos precatus, uti 
coepta prosperarent, sedesque suas pietate hominum incho- 
atas divina ope attollerent, vittas, quis ligatus lapis innexi- 
que funes erant, contigit. Simul ceteri magistratus et sa- 
cerdotes et senatus et eques et magna pars populi, studio 

35 laetitiaque connixi, saxum ingens traxere : passim que in- 
jectae fundamentis argenti aurique stipes et metallorum 
primitiae, nullis fornacibus victae, sed ut gignuntur. Prae- 
dixere haruspices, ne temeraretur opus saxo aurove in aliud 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LIV, LV. 195 

destinato. Altitudo aedibus adjecta. Id solum religio an- 
nuere, et prioris templi magnificentiae defuisse creditum. 

LIV. Audita interim per Gallias Germaniasque mors 
Vitellii duplicaverat bellum. Nam Civilis, omissa dissimu- 
latione, in populum Romanum ruere ; Yitellianae legiones 5 
vel externum servitium quam Imperatorem Vespasianum 
malle. Galli sustulerant animos, eandem ubique exercitu- 
um nostrorum fortunam rati, vulgato rumore a Sarmatis 
Dacisque Moesica ac Pannonica hiberna circumsideri : paria 
de Britannia fingebantur. Sed nihil aeque quam incendium 10 
Capitolii, ut finem imperio adesse crederent, impulerat. 
" Captam olim a Gallis urbem : sed, integra Jovis sede, 
mansisse imperium. Fatali nunc igne signum coelestis irae 
datum, et possessionem rerum humanarum Transalpinis gen- 
tibus portendi, ,, superstitione vana Druidae canebant. In- 15 
cesseratque fama primores Galliarum ab Othone adversus 
Vitellium missos, antequam digrederentur, pepigisse, ne de- 
essent libertati, si populum Romanum continua civilium 
bellorum series et interna mala fregissent. 

LV. Ante Flacci Hordeonii caedem nihil prorupit, quo 20 
conjuratio intelligeretur. Interfecto Hordeonio, commea- 
vere nuntii inter Civilem Classicumque praefectum alae 
Treverorum. Classicus nobilitate opibusque ante alios. 
Regium illi genus et pace belloque clara origo. Ipse e 
majoribus suis hostis populi Romani quam socius jactabat. 25 
Miscuere sese Julius Tutor et Julius Sabinus, hie Trevir, hie 
Lingonus. Tutor ripae Rheni a Vitellio praefectus ; Sa- 
binus super insitam vanitatem falsae stirpis gloriae incen- 
debatur : proaviam suam divo Julio per Gallias bellanti 
eorpore atque adulterio placuisse. Hi secretis sermonibus 30 
animos ceterorum scrutari : ubi quos idoneos rebantur con- 
scientia obstrinxere, in colonia Agrippinensi in domum pri- 
vatum conveniunt ; nam publice civitas talibus inceptis 
abhorrebat : attamen interfuere quidam Ubiorum Tungro- 
rumque. Sed plurima vis penes Treveros ac Lingonas : 35 
nee tulere moras consultandi : certatim proclamant furere 
discordiis populum Romanum, caesas legiones, vastatam 
Italiam, capi cum maxime urbem, omnes exercitus suis 



196 C. CORN. TACITI IIISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

quemque bellis distineri : si Alpes praesidiis firmentur, coa- 
lita libertate dispecturas Gallias, quern virium suarum ter- 
minum velint. 

LYI. Haec dicta pariter probataque : de reliquiis Yitelli- 
5 ani exercitus dubitavere. Plerique interficiendos censebant, 
turbidos, infidos, sanguine ducura pollutos. Yicit ratio par- 
cendi, ne sublata spe veniae pertinaciam accenderent : al- 
liciendos potius in societatem ; legatis tantum legionum in- 
terfectis, ceterum vulgus conscientia scelerum et spe impu- 

10 nitatis facile accessurum. Ea primi consilii forma : missique 
per Gallias concitores belli. Simulatum ipsis obsequium, 
quo incautiorem Yoculam opprimerent. Nee defuere, qui 
Voculae nuntiarent. Sed vires ad coercendum deerant, in- 
frequentibus infidisque legionibus. Inter ambiguos milites 

15 et occultos hostes, optimum e praesentibus ratus mutua 
dissimulatione et iisdem quibus petebatur grassari, in colo- 
niam Agrippinen&em descendit. Illuc Claudius Labeo, 
quern captum et extra conventum amandatum in Frisios 
diximus, eorruptis custodibus perfugit; pollicitusque, si prae- 

20 sidium daretur, iturum in Batavos et potiorem civitatis par- 
tem ad societatem Romanam retracturum, accepta peditum 
equitumque modica manu, nihil apud Batavos ausus, quos- 
dam Nerviorum Betasiorumque in arma traxit. Et furtim 
magis quam bello Canninefates Marsacosque incursabat. 

25 LVIL Yocula Gallorum fraude illectus, ad hostem con- 
tendit. Nee procul Yeteribus aberat, cum Classicus ac 
Tutor per speciem explorandi praegressi, cum ducibus Ger- 
manorum pacta firmavere. Tumque primum discreti a le- 
gionibus proprio vallo castra sua circumdant, obtestante 

30 Yocula " non adeo turbatam civilibus armis rem Romanam, 
ut Treveris etiam Lingonibusque despectui sit. Superesse 
fidas provincias, victores exercitus, fortunam imperii, et ul- 
tores deos. Sic olim Sacrovirum et Aeduos, nuper Yindi- 
cem Galliasque singulis proeliis concidisse. Eadem rursus 

35 numina, eadem fata ruptores foederum exspectarent. Me- 
lius divo Julio divoque Augusto notos eorum animos. Gal- 
bam et infracta tributa hostiles spiritus induisse. Nunc 
hostes, quia molle servitium ; cum spoliati exutique fuerint, 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LVIII. 197 

amicos fore." Haec ferociter locutus, postquam perstare in 
perfidia Classicum Tutoremque videt, verso itinere Novesi- 
um concedit. Galli duum millium spatio distantibus cam- 
pis consedere. Illuc commeantium centurionum militumque 
emebantur animi, ut (flagitium incognitum) Romanus exer- 5 
citus in externa verba jurarent, pignusque tanti sceleris 
nece ant vincnlis legatornm daretur. Yocnla, quanquam 
pleriqne fugam suadebant, andendnm ratns, vocata con- 
done in hunc modnm disseruit. 

LVIII. " Nunquam apnd vos verba feci ant pro vobis 10 
sollicitior aut pro me secnrior. Nam mihi exitium parari 
libens audio, mortemqne in tot malis hostium, ut finem 
miseriarum, exspecto. Vestri me pudet miseretque, adversus 
qnos non proelium et acies parantur, id enim fas armorum 
et jns hostiurn : bellum cum populo Romano vestris se 15 
manibns gesturum Classicns sperat, imperinmqne et sacra- 
mentum Galliarum ostentat. Adeo nos, si fortuna in prae- 
sens virtusque deseruit, etiam vet era exempla deficinnt, 
qnotiens Romanae legiones perire praeoptaverint, ne loco 
pellerentur ? socii saepe nostri exscindi urbes suas, seque 20 
cum conjugibus ac liberis cremari pertulerunt ; neque aliud 
pretium exitus quam fides famaque. Tolerant cum maxime 
inopiam obsidiumque apud Vetera legiones, nee terrore aut 
promissis demoventur. Nobis, super arma et viros et egre- 
gia castrorum munimenta, frumentum et commeatus quam- 25 
vis longo bello pares. Pecunia nuper etiam donativo suffe- 
cit, quod sive a Vespasiano sive a Vitellio datum interpre- 
tari mavultis, ab imperatore certe Romano accepistis. Tot 
bellorum victores apud Geldubam, apud Vetera, fuso totiens 
hoste, si pavetis aciem, indignum id quidem : sed est val- 30 
lum murique et trahendi artes, donee e proximis provinces 
auxilia exercitusque concurrant. Sane ego displiceam : 
sunt alii legati, tribuni, centurio denique aut miles. Ne 
hoc prodigium toto terrarum orbe vulgetur, vobis satelliti- 
bus Civilem et Classicum Italiam invasuros. An, si ad 35 
moenia urbis Germani Gallique duxerint, arma patriae in- 
feretis ? Horret animus tanti flagitii imagine. Tutorin 
Trevero agentur excubiae ? Signum belli Batavus dabit ? 

17* 



198 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

et Germanorum catervas supplebitis ? quis deinde sceleris 
exitus ? cum Romanae legiones contra direxerint, transfu- 
gae e transfugis et proditores e proditoribus inter recens et 
vetus sacramentum invisi deis errabitis ? Te, Juppiter Op- 
5 time Maxime, quern per octingentos viginti annos tot trium- 
phis coluimus, te, Quirine Romanae parens urbis, precor 
venerorque, ut si vobis non fuit cordi me duce haec castra 
incorrupta et intemerata servari, at certe pollui foedarique 
a Tutore et Classico ne sinatis. Militibus Romanis aut 

10 innocentiam detis, aut maturam et sine noxa poenitentiam." 

LIX. Varie excepta oratio, inter spem metumque ac pu- 

dorem. Digressum Yoculam et de supremis agitantem, 

liberti servique prohibuere foedissimam mortem sponte 

praevenire. Et Classicus, misso Aemilio Longino desertore 

15 primae legionis, caedem ejus maturavit. Herennium et 
Numisium legatos vinciri satis visum. Dein sumptis Ro- 
mani imperii insignibus, in castra venit. Nee illi, quanquam 
ad omne facinus durato, verba ultra suppeditavere quam 
ut sacramentum recitaret. Juravere, qui aderant, pro im- 

20 perio Galliarum. Interfectorem Yoculae altis ordinibus, 
ceteros, ut quisque flagitium navaverat, praemiis attollit. 
Divisae inde inter Tutorem et Classicum curae. Tutor va- 
lida manu circumdatos Agrippinenses, quantumque militum 
apud superiorem Rheni ripam, in eadem verba adigit, occi- 

25 sis Magontiaci tribunis, pulso castrorum praefecto, qui de- 
trectaverant. Classicus corruptissimum quemque e deditis 
pergere ad obsessos jubet, veniam ostentantes, si praesentia 
sequerentur : aliter nihil spei ; famem ferrumque et ex- 
trema passuros. Adjecere, qui missi erant, exemplum suum. 

30 LX. Obsessos hinc fides, inde egestas inter decus ac fla- 
gitium distrahebant. Cunctantibus solita insolitaque ali- 
menta deerant, absumptis jumentis equisque et ceteris ani- 
malibus, quae profana foedaque in usum necessitas vertit. 
Virgulta postremo et stirpes et internatas saxis herbas vel- 

35 lentes, miseriarum patientiaeque documentum fuere, donee 
egregiam laudem fine turpi macularent, missis ad Civilem 
legatis vitam orantes. Neque ante preces admissae quam 
in verba Galliarum jurarent. Turn pactus praedam cas- 



A. C. *70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXI, LXIL. 199 

trorum dat custodes, qui pecuniam, calories, sarcinas reten- 
tarent, ac qui ipsos leves abeuntes prosequerentur. Ad 
quintum fere lapidem coorti Germani incautum agmen 
aggrediuntur. Pugnacissimus quisque in vestigio, multl 
palantes occubuere : ceteri retro in castra perfugiunt, que- 5 
rente sane Civile et increpante Germanos, tanquam fidem 
per scelus abrumperent. Simulata ea fuerint an retinere 
saevientes nequiverit, parum affirmatur. Direptis castris, 
faces injiciunt, cunctosque, qui proelio superfuerant, incen- 
dium hausit. 10 

LXI. Civilis barbaro voto, post coepta ad versus Romano s 
arma, propexum rutilatumque crinem, patrata demum caede 
legionum, deposuit. Et ferebatur parvulo filio quosdarn 
captivorum sagittis jaculisque puerilibus figendos obtulisse. 
Ceterum neque se neque quenquam Batavum in verba Gal- 15 
liarum adegit, fisus Germanorum opibus et, si certandum 
adversus Gallos de possessione rerum foret, inclitus fama 
et potior. Muni us Lupereus legatus legionis inter dona 
missus Yeledae. Ea virgo nationis Bructerae late imperita- 
bat, vetere apud Germanos more, quo plerasque feminarum 20 
fatidicas et, augescente supers titione, arbitrantur deas. 
Tuncque Veledae auctoritas adolevit : nam prosperas Ger- 
manis res et excidium legionum praedixerat. Sed Luper- 
eus in itinere interfectus ; pauci centurionum tribunorumque 
in Gallia geniti reservantur pignus societatis. Cohortium, 25 
alarum, legionum hiberna subversa cremataque, iis tantum 
relictis quae Magontiaci ac Yindonissae sita sunt. 

LXIL Legio sextadecima cum auxiliis simul deditis a 
Novesio in coloniam Treverorum transgredi jubetur, prae- 
finita die intra quam castris excederet. Medium omne 30 
tempus per varias curas egere, ignavissimus quisque caeso- 
rum apud Vetera exemplo paventes, melior pars rubore et 
infamia: "quale illud iter? quis dux viae? et omnia in 
arbitrio eorum, quos vitae necisque dominos fecissent." 
Alii, nulla dedecoris eura, pecuniam aut carissima sibimet 35 
ipsi circumdare. Quidam expedire arma telisque tanquam 
in aciem accingi. Haec meditantibus advenit proficiscendi 
hora, expectatione tristior, Quippe intra vallum deformitas 



200 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

haud perinde notabilis : detexit ignominiam campus et dies. 
Revulsae imperatorum imagines, inhonora signa, fulgentibus 
Line inde Gallorum vexillis ; silens agmen, et velut longae 
exsequiae ; dux Claudius Sanctus effosso oculo, dirus ore, 
5 ingenio debilior. Duplieatur flagitium, postquam, desertis 
Bonnensibus castris, altera se legio miscuerat. Et vulgata 
eaptarum legionum fama, cuncti, qui paulo ante Romano- 
rum nomen horrebant, procurrentes ex agris tectisque et 
undique effusi insolito spectaculo nimium fruebantur. Non 

10 tulit ala Picentina gaudium insultantis vulgi, spretisque 
Sancti promissis aut minis, Magontiacum abeunt ; ac forte 
obvio interfectore Voculae Longino, conjectis in eum telis, 
initium exsolvendae in posterum culpae fecere. Legiones, 
nihil mutato itinere, ante moenia Treverorum considunt. 

15 LXIII. Civilis et Classicus rebus secundis sublati, an 
coloniam Agrippinensem diripiendam exercitibus suis per- 
mitterent, dubitavere. Saevitia ingenii et cupidine praedae 
ad excidium civitatis trahebantur : obstabat ratio belli, et 
novum imperium inchoantibus utilis clementiae fama. Civi- 

20 lem etiam beneficii memoria flexit, quod filium ejus primo 
rerum motu in colonia Agrippinensi deprehensum honorate 
custodierant. Sed Transrhenanis gentibus invisa civitas 
opulentia auc tuque. Neque alium finem belli rebantur, 
quam si promiscua ea sedes omnibus Germanis foret, aut 

25 disjecta Ubios quoque dispersisset. 

LXIV. Igitur Tencteri, Rheno discreta gens, missis 
legatis mandata apud concilium Agrippinensium edi jubent : 
quae ferocissimus e legatis in hunc modum protulit : " Re- 
disse vos in corpus nomenque Germaniae, communibus deis 

30 et praecipuo deorum Marti grates agimus ; vobisque gratu- 
lamur, quod tandem liberi inter liberos eritis. Nam ad 
hunc diem flumina ac terras et coelum quodammodo ipsum 
clauserant Romani, ut colloquia congressusque nostros arce- 
rent, vel, quod contumeliosius est viris ad arma natis, iner- 

35 mes ac prope nudi sub custode et pretio coiremus. Sed ut 
amicitia societasque nostra in aeternum rata sit, postulamus 
a vobis, muros coloniae, munimenta servitii, detrahatis ; 
etiam fera animalia, si clausa teneas, virtutis obliviscuntur ; 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXV, LXVI. 201 

Romanos omnes in finibus vestris trucidetis ; haud facile 
libertas et domini miscentur : bona interfectorum in medium 
cedant, ne quis occulere quicquam aut segregare causam 
suam possit. Liceat nobis vobisque utramque ripam colere, 
ut olim majoribus nostris ; quomodo lucem diemque omni- 5 
bus hominibus, ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit. 
Instituta cultumque patrium resumite, abruptis voluptati- 
bus ; quibus Romani plus ad versus subjectos quam armis 
valent : sincerus et integer et servitutis oblitus populus aut 
ex aequo agetis aut aliis imperitabitis." 10 

LXV. Agrippinenses sumpto consultandi spatio, quando 
neque subire conditiones metus futuri neque palam aspernari 
conditio praesens sinebat, in hunc modum respondent : 
" Quae prima libertatis facultas data est, avidius quam 
cautius sumpsimus, ut vobis ceteris^ue Germanis consan- 15 
guineis nostris jungeremur. Muros civitatis, congregantibus 
se cum maxime Romanorum exercitibus, augere nobis quam 
diruere tutius est. Si qui ex Italia aut provinciis alieni- 
genae in finibus nostris fuerant, eos bellum absumpsit vel in 
suas quisque sedes refugere. Deductis olim et nobiscum 20 
per connubium soeiatis, quique mox provenere, haec patria 
est. Nee vos adeo iniquos existimamus, ut interfici a nobis 
parentes, fratres, liberos nostros velitis. Vectigal et onera 
commerciorum resolvimus. Sint transitus incustoditi, sed 
diurni et inermes, donee nova et recentia jura in vetustatem 25 
consuetudine vertantur. Arbitrum habebimus Civilem et 
Veledam, apud quos pacta sancientur." Sic lenitis Tenc- 
teris, legati ad Civilem et Veledam missi cum donis, cuncta 
ex voluntate Agrippinensium perpetravere. Sed coram 
adire alloquique Yeledam negatum. Arcebantur aspectu, 30 
quo venerationis plus inesset. Ipsa edita in turre : delectus 
e propinquis consul ta responsaque, ut inter nuntius numinis, 
portabat. 

LXVI. Chilis societate Agrippinensium auctus, proximas 
civitates affectare aut adversantibus bellum inferre statuit : 35 
occupatisque Sunicis et juventute eorum per cohortes com- 
posita, quo minus ultra pergeret, Claudius Labeo Betasio- 
rum Tungrorumque et Nerviorum tumultuaria manu restitit, 



202 , C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

fretus loco, quia pontem Mosae fluminis anteceperat : pug- 
nabaturque in angustiis ambigue, donee Germani transna- 
tantes terga Labeonis invasere. Simul Civilis, ausus an ex 
composito, intulit se agmini Tungrorum, et clara voce : 
5 " Non ideo," inquit " bellura sumpsirnus, ut Batavi et Trev- 
eri gentibus imperent. Procul haec a nobis arrogantia : 
accipite societatem : transgredior ad vos, seu me ducem, seu 
militem mavultis." Movebatur vulgus condebantque gla- 
dios, cum Campanus ac Juvenalis, e primoribus Tungrorum, 

10 universam ei gentem dedidere. Labeo, antequam circum- 
veniretur, profugit. Civilis Betasios quoque ac Nervios, in 
fidem acceptos, copiis suis adjunxit, ingens rerum, perculsis 
civitatum animis vel sponte inclinantibus. 

LXVII. Interea Julius Sabinus, projectis foederis Ro- 

15 mani monumentis, Caesarem se salutari jubet, magnamque 
et inconditam popularium turbam in Sequanos rapit, con- 
terminam civitatem et nobis fidam. JSTec Sequani detrecta- 
vere certamen. Fortuna melioribus afFuit. Fusi Lin<rones. 
Sabinus festinatum temere proelium pari formidine deseruit, 

20 utque famam exitii sui faceret, villam, in quam perfugerat, 
cremavit, illic voluntaria morte interiisse creditus. Sed 
quibus artibus latebrisque vitam per novem mox annos 
traduxerit, simul amicorum ejus constantiam et insigne 
Epponinae uxoris exemplum suo loco reddemus. Sequano- 

25 rum prospera acie belli impetus stetit. Resipiscere paula- 
tim civitates, fasque et foedera respicere, principibus Remis, 
qui per Gallias edixere, ut missis legatis in commune con- 
sultarent, libertas an pax placeret. 

LXVIII. At Romae cuncta in deterius audita Mucianum 

30 angebant, ne quanquam egregii duces (jam enim Galium 
Annium et Petilium Cerialem delegerat) summam belli 
parum tolerarent. Nee relinquenda urbs sine rectore. Et 
Domitiani indomitae libidines timebantur, suspectis, uti 
diximus, Primo Antonio Yaroque Arrio. Varus praetoria- 

35 nis praepositus vim atque arma retinebat. Eum Mucianus 
pulsum loco, ne sine solatio ageret, annonae praefecit ; ut- 
que Domitiani animum Varo haud alienum deleniret, Arre- 
tinum Clementem, domui Vespasiani per affinitatem innex- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXIX, 203 

urn et gratissimum Domitiano, praetorianis praeposuit, pa- 
trem ejus sub Caio Caesare egregie functum ea cura dicti- 
tans : laetum militibus idem nomen, atque ipsum, quanquam 
senatorii ordinis, ad utraque munia sufficere. Assumuntur 
e civitate clarissimus quisque, et alii per ambitionem. Simul 5 
Domitianus Mucianusque accingebantur, dispari animo ; ille 
spe ac juventa properus, hie moras nectens, quis flagrantem 
retineret, ne ferocia aetatis et pravis impulsoribus, si exer- 
citum invasisset, paci belloque male consuleret. Legiones 
victrices, sexta et octava, Vitellianarum unaetvicesima, e 10 
recens conscriptis secunda, Penninis Cottianisque Alpibus, 
pars monte Graio traducuntur : quartadecima legio e Bri- 
tannia, sexta ac decima ex Hispania accitae. Igitur veni- 
entis exercitus fama et suopte ingenio ad mitiora inclinantes 
Galliarum civitates in Remos convenere. Treverorum lega- 15 
tio illic opperiebatur, acerrimo instinctore belli Tullio Va- 
lentino. Is meditata oratione cuncta magnis imperiis objec- 
tari solita contumeliasque et invidiam in populum Roma- 
num effudit, turbidus miscendis seditionibus et plerisque 
gratus vecordi facundia. 20 

LXIX. At Julius Auspex e primoribus Remorum, vim 
Romanam pacisque bona dissertans, et " sumi bellum etiam 
ab ignavis, strenuissimi cuj usque periculo geri, jamque 
super caput legiones," sapientissimum quemque reverentia 
fide que, juniores periculo ac metu continuit. Et Valentini 25 
animum laudabant, consilium Auspicis sequebantur. Con- 
stat obstitisse Treveris Lingonibusque apud Gallias, quod 
Vindicis motu cum Verginio steterant. Deterruit plerosque 
provinciarum aemulatio : " quod bello caput ? unde jus 
auspiciumque peteretur ? quam, si cuncta provenissent, se- 30 
dem imperio legerent ?" Nondum victoria, jam discordia 
erat, aliis foedera, quibusdam opes viresque aut vetustatem 
originis per jurgia jactantibus. Taedio futurorum praesen- 
tia placuere. Scribuntur ad Treveros epistolae nomine 
Galliarum, ut abstinerent armis, impetrabili venia et paratis 35 
deprecatoribus, si poeniteret. Restitit idem Yalentinus, 
obstruxitque civitatis suae aures, baud perinde instruendo 
bello intentus quam frequens concionibus. 



204 C, CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

LXX. Igitur non Treveri neque Lingones ceteraeve re- 
bellium civitates pro magnitudine suscepti discriminis agere. 
Ne duces quidem in unum consulere, sed Civilis avia 
Belgamm circumibat, dum Claudiura Labeonem capere 
5 aut exturbare nititur : Classicus, segne plerumque otium 
trahens, velut parto imperio fruebatur. Ne Tutor quidem 
maturavit superior em Germaniae ripam et ardua Alpium 
praesidiis claudere. Atque interim unaetvicesima legio 
Vindonissa, Sextilius Felix cum auxiliariis cohortibus per 

10 Raetiam irrupere. Accessit ala Singularium, excita olim 
a Vitellio, deinde in partes Vespasiani transgressa. Prae- 
erat Julius Briganticus sorore Civilis genitus, ut ferme 
acerrima proximorum odia sunt, invisus avunculo infensus- 
que. Tutor Treverorum copias, recenti Yangionum, Cara- 

15 catium, Tribocorum delectu auctas, veterano pedite atque 
equite firmavit, corruptis spe aut metu subactis legionariis ; 
qui primo cohortem praemissam a Sextilio Felice inter- 
ficiunt, mox ubi duces exercitusque Romanus propinqua- 
bant, honesto transfugio rediere, secutis Tribocis Vangioni- 

20 busque et Caracatibus. Tutor, Treveris comitantibus, 
vitato Magontiaco, Bingium concessit, fidens loco quia pon- 
tem Navae fluminis abruperat, sed incursu cohortium, quas 
Sextilius ducebat, et reperto vado, proditus fususque. Ea 
clade perculsi Treveri, et plebes, omissis armis, per agros 

25 palatur : quidam principum, ut primi posuisse bellum vide- 
rentur, in civitates, quae societatem Romanan>non exuerant, 
perfugere. Legiones a Novesio Bonnaque in Treveros, ut 
supra memoravimus, traductae, se ipsae in verba Vespasiani 
adigunt. Haec Valentino absente gesta ; qui ubi adventa- 

30 bat furens cunctaque rursus in turbas et exitium conversu- 
rus, legiones in Mediomatricos, sociam civitatem, absces- 
sere. Valentinus ac Tutor in arma Treveros retrahunt, 
occisis Herennio ac Numisio legatis, quo minore spe veniae 
cresceret vinculum sceleris. 

35 LXXI. Hie belli status erat, cum Petilius Cerialis Ma- 
gontiacum venit : ejus adventu erectae spes. Ipse pugnae 
avidus et contemnendis quam cavendis hostibus melior, 
ferocia verborum militem incendebat, ubi primum congredi 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXXII. 205 

licuisset, nullam proelio moram facturus : delectus per 
Galliam habitos in civitates remittit, ac nuntiare jubet 
sufficere imperio legiones: socii ad munia pacis redirent, 
securi velut confecto bello, quod Romanae manus excepis- 
sent. Auxit ea res Gallorum obsequium. Nam, recepta 5 
juventute, facilius tributa toleravere, proniores ad officia, 
quod spernebantur. At Civilis et Classicus, ubi pulsum 
Tutorem, caesos Treveros, cuncta hostibus prospera ac- 
cepere, trepidi ac properantes, dum dispersas suorum 
copias conducunt, crebris interim nuntiis Yalentinum monu- 10 
ere, ne summae rei periculum faceret. Eo rapidius Ceria- 
lis, missis in Mediomatricos qui breviore itinere legiones in 
hostem verterent, contracto quod erat militum Magontiaci 
quantumque secum transvexerat, tertiis castris Rigodulum 
venit ; quern locum magna Treverorum manu Valentinus 15 
insederat montibus aut Mosella amne septum ; et addide- 
rat fossas obicesque saxorum. Nee deterruere ea muni- 
menta Romanum ducem, quo minus peditem perrumpere 
juberet, equitum aciem in collem erigeret, spreto hoste, 
quern temere collectum haud ita loco juvari, ut non plus 20 
suis in virtute foret. Paulum morae in ascensu, dum mis- 
silia hostium praevehuntur : ut ventum in manus, detur- 
bati ruinae modo praecipitantur. Et pars equitum, aequi- 
oribus jugis circumvecta, nobilissimos Belgarum, in quis 
ducem Yalentinum, cepit. 25 

LXXII. Cerialis postero die coloniam Treverorum in- 
gressus est, avido milite eruendae civitatis : " hanc esse 
Classici, hanc Tutoris patriam ; horum scelere clausas 
caesasque legiones. Quid tantum Cremonam meruisse, 
quam e gremio Italiae raptam, quia unius noctis moram 30 
victoribus attulerit ? Stare in confinio Germaniae integram 
sedem spoliis exercituum et ducum caedibus ovantem. 
Redigeretur praeda in fiscum : ipsis sufficere ignes et re- 
bellis coloniae ruinas, quibus tot castrorum excidia pensa- 
rentur." Cerialis a metu infamiae, si licentia saevitiaque 35 
imbuere militem crederetur, pressit iras : et paruere, posito 
civium bello ad externa modestiores. Convertit inde ani- 
mos accitarum e Mediomatricis legionum miserabilis aspec- 

18 



206 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

tus. Stabant conscientia flagitii maestae, fixis in terram 
oculis. Nulla inter coeuntes exercitus consalutatio ; neque 
solantibus hortantibusve responsa dabant, abditi per tento- 
ria et lucem ipsam vitantes ; nee perinde periculum aut 
5 metus, quam pudor ac dedecus, obstupefecerat, attonitis 
etiam victoribus, qui vocem precesque adhibere non ausi 
lacrimis ac silentio veniam poscebant, donee Cerialis mul- 
ceret animos, fato acta dictitans, quae militum ducumque 
discordia vel fraude hostium evenissent. Primum ilium 

10 stipendiorum et sacramenti diem haberent : p riorum faci- 
norum neque Imperatorem neque se meminisse. Tunc re- 
cepti in eadem castra, et edictum per manipulos, ne quis 
in certamine jurgiove seditionem aut cladem commilitoni 
objectaret. 

15 LXXI1I. Mox Treveros ac Lingonas ad concionem voca- 
tos tea alloquitur : " Neque ego unquam facundiam exercui, et 
populi Romani virtutem armis affirmavi. Sed quoniam apud 
vos verba plurimum valent, bonaque ac mala non sua natura 
sed vocibus seditiosorum aestimantur, statui pauca disse- 

20 rere, quae, profligato bello, utilius sit vobis audisse quam 
nobis dixisse. Terram vestram ceterorumque Gallorum in- 
gressi sunt duces imperatoresque Romani nulla cupidine, 
sed majoribus vestris invocantibus, quos discordiae usque 
ad exitium fatigabant ; et acciti auxilio Germani sociis pari- 

25 ter atque hostibus servitutem imposuerant. Quot proeliis 
adversus Cimbros Teutonosque, quantis exercituum nostro- 
rum laboribus, quove eventu Germanica bella tractaveri- 
mus, satis clarum. Nee ideo Rhenum insedimus ut Italiam 
tueremur, sed ne quis alius Ariovistus regno Galliarum pot- 

30 iretur. An vos cariores Civili Batavisque et Transrhena- 
nis gentibus creditis quam majoribus eorum patres avique 
vestri fuerunt? Eadem semper causa Germanis transcen- 
dendi in Gallias, libido atque avaritia et mutandae sedis 
amor, ut relictis paludibus et solitudinibus suis fecundissi- 

35 mum hoc solum vosque ipsos possiderent. Ceterum liber- 
tas et speciosa nomina praetexuntur ; nee quisquam alie- 
num servitium et dominationem sibi concupivit, ut non 
eadem ista vocabula usurparet. 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXXIV, LXXV. 207 

LXXIY. " Regna bellaque per Gallias semper fuere, donee 
in nostrum jus concederetis. Nos, quanquam totiens laces- 
siti, jure victoriae id solum vobis addidimus, quo pacem 
tueremur. Nam neque quies gentium sine armis, neque 
arma sine stipendiis, neque stipendia sine tributis haberi 5 
queunt. Cetera in communi sita sunt. Ipsi plerumque 
legionibus nostris praesidetis, ipsi has aliasque provincias 
regitis. Nihil separatum clausumve. Et laudatorum prin- 
cipum usus ex aequo, quamvis procul agentibus : saevi 
proximis ingruunt. Quomodo sterilitatem aut nimios im- 10 
bres et cetera naturae mala, ita luxum vel avaritiam domi- 
nantium tolerate. Vitia erunt, donee homines ; sed neque 
haec continua, et meliorum int erven tu pensantur, nisi forte 
Tutore et Classico regnantibus moderatius imperium spera- 
tis, aut minoribus quam nunc tributis parabuntur exercitus, 15 
quibus Germani Britannique arceantur. Nam pulsis (quod 
dii prohibeant) Romanis, quid aliud quam bella omnium 
inter se gentium exsistent ? Octingentorum annorum for- 
tuna disciplinaque compages haec coaluit, quae convelli 
sine exitio convellentium non potest. Sed vobis maximum 20 
discrimen, penes quos aurum et opes, praecipuae bellorum 
causae. Proinde pacem et urbem, quam victi victoresque 
eodem jure obtinemus, amate, colite. Moneant vos utrius- 
que fortunae documenta, ne contumaciam cum pernicie 
quam obsequium cum securitate malitis." Tali oratione 25 
graviora metuentes composuit erexitque. 

LXXV. Tenebantur victore exercitu Treveri, cum Civilis 
et Classicus misere epistolas ad Cerialem, quarum haec sen- 
ten tia fuit : " Vespasianum, quanquam nuntios occultarent, 
excessisse vita, Urbem atque Italiam interno bello con- 80 
sumptam. Muciani ac Domitiani vana et sine viribus no- 
mina. Si Cerialis imperium Galliarum velit, ipsos finibus 
civitatum suarum contentos ; si proelium mallet, ne id qui- 
dem abnuere." Ad ea Cerialis Civili et Classico nihil : eum 
qui attulerat, ipsas epistolas ad Domitianum misit. Hostes 35 
divisis copiis advenere undique. Plerique culpabant Ceria- 
lem passum jungi, quos discretos intercipere licuisset. Ro- 
manus exercitus castra fossa valloque circumdedit, quis 



208 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

temere antea intutis consederat. Apud Germanos diversis 
sententiis certabatur. 

LXXVI. Civilis, u opperiendas Transrhenanorum gentes, 
quarum terrore fractae populi Romani vires obtererentur. 
5 Gallos quid aliud quam praedam victoribus ? et tamen, 
quod roboris sit, Belgas, secum palara aut voto stare." Tu- 
tor cunctatione crescere rem Romanam affirmabat, coeunti- 
bus undique exercitibus. " Transvectam e Britannia legio- 
nem, accitas ex Hispania, adventare ex Italia ; nee subitum 

10 militem, sed veterem expertumque belli. Nam Germanos, 
qui ab ipsis sperentur, non juberi, non regi, sed cuncta ex 
libidine agere ; pecuniamque ac dona, quis solis corrum- 
pantur, majora apud Romanos, et neminem adeo in arma 
pronum, ut non idem pretium quietis quam periculi malit. 

15 Quod si statu congrediantur, nullas esse Ceriali nisi ex re- 
liqviiis Germanici exercitttfl legiones, foederibus Galliarum 
obstrictas. Idque ipsum, quod inconditam nuper Valentini 
manum contra spem suam fuderint, alimentum illis ducique 
temeritatis. Ausuros rursus venturosque in manus non im- 

20 periti adoleseentuli, verba et conciones quam ferrum et ar- 
ma meditantis, sed Civilis et Classici ; quos ubi aspexerint, 
redituram in animos formidinem, fugam famemque ac to- 
tiens captis precariam vitam : neque Treveros aut Lingonas 
benevolentia contineri ; resumpturos arma, ubi metus ab- 

25 scesserit." Diremit consiliorum diversitatem approbata Tu- 
toris sententia Classicus; statimque exsequuntur. 

LXXV1I. Media acies Ubiis Lingonibusque data ; dextro 
cornu cohortes Batavorum ; sinistro Bructeri Tencterique. 
Pars montibus, alii viam inter Mosellamque flumen, tarn im- 

30 provisi assiluere, ut in cubiculo ac lectulo Cerialis (neque 
enim noctem in castris egerat) pugnari simul vincique suos 
audierit, increpans pavorem nuntiantium, donee universa 
clades in oculis fuit, peiTupta legionum castra, fusi equites, 
medius Mosellae pons, qui ulteriora coloniae annectit, ab 

35 hostibus insessus. Cerialis turbidis rebus intrepidus et fu- 
gientes manu retrahens, intecto corpore promptus inter tela, 
felici temeritate et fortissimi cuj usque accursu reciperatum 
pontem electa manu firmavit. Mox in castra reversus, pa- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXXVIII, LXXIX. 209 

lantes captarum apud Novesium Bonnamque legionum ma- 
nipulos et rarum apud signa militem ac prope circumventas 
aquilas videt. Incensus ira, " non Flaccum," inquit, « non 
Voculam deseritis. Nulla hie proditio ; neque aliud excu- 
sandum habeo quam quod vos, Gallici foederis oblitos, re- 5 
disse in memoriam Romani sacramenti temere credidi. An- 
numerabor Numisiis et Herenniis, ut omnes legati vestri aut 
militum manibus aut hostium ceciderint. Ite, nuntiate Ves- 
pasiano vel, quod propius est, Civili et Classico, relictum a 
vobis in acie dueem : venient legiones, quae neque me inul- 10 
turn neque yos impunitos patiantur." 

LXXVIII. Vera erant, et a tribunis praefectisque eadem 
ingerebantur. Consistunt per cobortes et manipulos : neque 
enim poterat patescere acies, efiuso boste et impedientibus 
tentoriis sarcinisque, cum intra vallum pugnaretur. Tutor 15 
et Classicus et Civilis suis quisque locis pugnam ciebant, 
Gallos pro libertate, Batavos pro gloria, Germanos ad prae- 
dam instigantes. Et cuncta pro bostibus erant, donee legio 
unaetvicesima, patentiore quam ceterae spatio conglobata, 
sustinuit ruentes, mox impulit. Nee sine ope divina, muta- 20 
tis repente animis, terga victores vertere. Ipsi territos se 
cohortium aspectu ferebant, quae primo impetu disjectae 
summis rursus jugis congregabantur ac speciem novi auxilii 
fecerant. Sed obstitit vincentibus pravum inter ipsos cer- 
tamen, omisso hoste, spolia consectandi. Cerialis, ut incu- 25 
ria prope rem afflixit, ita constantia restituit ; secutusque 
fortunam castra bostium eodem die capit exscinditque. 

LXXIX. Nee in longum quies militi data. Orabant aux- 
ilium Agrippinenses, offerebantque uxorem ac sororem Civ- 
ilis et filiam Classici, relicta sibi pignora societatis. Atque 30 
interim dispersos in domibus Germanos trucidaverant ; unde 
met us et justae preces invocantium, antequam bostes repa- 
ratis viribus ad spem vel ad ultionem accingerentur. Nam- 
que et Civilis illuc intenderat, non invalidus, flagrantissima 
cohortium suarum integra, quae e Chaucis Frisiisque com- 35 
posita Tolbiaci in finibus Agrippinensium agebat. Sed tris- 
tis nuntius avertit, deletam cohortem dolo Agrippinensium ; 
qui largis epulis vinoque sopitos Germanos, clausis foribus, 

18* 



210 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

igne injecto cremavere. Simul Cerialis propero agmine 
subvenit. Circumsteterat Civilem et alius metus, ne quar- 
tadecima legio, adjuncta Britannica classe, afflictaret Bata- 
vos, qua Oceano ambiuntur. Sed legionem terrestri itinere 
5 Fabius Priscus legatus in Nervios Tungrosque duxit, eaeque 
civitates in deditionem acceptae : classem ultro Canninefates 
aggressi sunt, majorque pars navium depressa aut capta. 
Et JNTerviorum multitudinem, sponte commotam ut pro Ro- 
manis bellum capesseret, iidem Canninefates fudere. Clas- 

10 sicus quoque ad versus equites Novesium a Ceriale praemis- 
sos secundum proelium fecit: quae modica sed crebra 
damna famam victoriae nuper partae lacerabant. 

LXXX. Iisdem diebus Mucianus Vitellii filium interfici 
jubet, mansuram discordiam obtendens, ni semina belli res- 

15 tinxisset. Neque Antonium Primum asciri inter comites a 
Domitiano passus est, favore militum anxius et superbia viri, 
aequalium quoque, adeo superiorum, intolerantis. Profec- 
tus ad Vespasianum Antonius, ut non pro spe sua excipitur, 
ita neque averso Imperatoris animo. Trahebatur in diversa, 

20 hinc mentis Antonii, cujus ductu confectum haud dubie 
bellum erat, inde Muciani epistolis : simul ceteri ut infestum 
tumidumque insectabantur, adjunctis prioris vitae crimini- 
bus : neque ipse deerat arrogantia vocare offensas, nimius 
commemorandis quae meruisset. Alios ut imbelles, Caeci- 

25 nam ut captivum ac dediticium increpat. Unde paulatim 
levior viliorque haberi, manente tamen in speciem amicitia. 

LXXXI. Per eos menses, quibus Yespasianus Alexandriae 
statos aestivis flatibus dies et certa maris opperiebatur, multa 
miracula evenere, quis coelestis favor et quaedam in Ves- 

30 pasianum inclinatio numinum ostenderetur. E plebe Alex- 
andria quid am oculorum tabe notus genua ejus advolvitur, 
remedium caecitatis exposcens gemitu, monitu Serapidis dei, 
quern dedita superstitionibus gens ante alios colit ; precaba- 
turque Principem, ut genas et oculorum orbes dignaretur 

35 respergere oris excremento. Alius manum aeger, eodem 
deo auctore, ut pede ac vestigio Caesaris calcaretur, orabat. 
Vespasianus primo irridere,. aspernari ; atque, illis instanti- 
bus, modo famam vanitatis metuere, modo obsecratione 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXXXII, LXXXIII. 211 

ipsorum et vocibus adulantium in spem induci : postremo 
aestimari a medicis jubet, an talis caecitas ac debilitas ope 
humana superabiles forent. Medici varie disserere : " Huic 
non exesam vim luminis, et redituram, si pellerentur ob- 
stantia ; illi elapsos in pravum artus, si salubris vis adhibe- 5 
atur, posse integrari. Id fortasse cordi deis, et divino mi- 
nisterio Principem electum : denique patrati remedii gloriam 
penes Caesarem, irriti ludibrium penes miseros fore.'' Igi- 
tur Yespasianus cuncta fortunae suae patere ratus nee 
quicquam ultra incredibile, laeto ipse vultu, erecta quae 10 
astabat multitudine, jussa exsequitur. Statim conversa ad 
usum manus, ac caeco reluxit dies. Utrumque, qui inter- 
fuere, nunc quoque memorant, postquam nullum mendacio 
pretium. 

LXXXII. Altior inde Vespasiano cupido adeundi sacram 15 
sedem, ut super rebus imperii consuleret. Arceri templo 
cunctos jubet : atque ingressus intentusque numini, respexit 
pone tergum e primoribus Aegyptiorum nomine Basiliden, 
quern procul Alexandria plurium dierum itinere et aegro 
corpore detineri haud ignorabat. Percunctatur sacerdotes, 20 
num illo die Basilides templum inisset ; percunctatur obvios, 
num in urbe visas sit : denique missis equitibus explorat illo 
temporis momento octoginta millibus passuum abfuisse. 
Tunc divinam speciem et vim responsi ex nomine Basilidis 
interpretatus est. 25 

LXXXIII. Origo dei nondum nostris auctoribus cele- 
brata. Aegyptiorum antistites sic memorant : " Ptolemaeo 
regi, qui Macedonum primus Aegypti opes firmavit, cum 
Alexandriae recens conditae moenia templaque et religiones 
adderet, oblatum per quietem decore eximio et ma j ore quam 30 
humana specie juvenem, qui moneret, ut fidissimis amicorum 
in Pontum missis effigiem suam acciret : laetum id regno, 
magnamque et inclitam sedem fore, quae excepisset : simul 
visum eundem juvenem in coelum igne plurimo attolli." 
Ptolemaeus omine et miraculo excitus, sacerdotibus Aegyp- 35 
tiorum, quibus mos talia intelligere, nocturnos visus aperit. 
Atque illis Ponti et externorum parum gnaris, Timotheum 
Atheniensem e gente Eumolpidarum, quern ut antistitem 



212 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

caerimoniarum Eleusine exciverat, quaenam ilia superstitio, 
quod numen, interrogat. Timotheus, quaesitis qui in Pon- 
tum meassent, cognoscit urbem illic Sinopen, nee procul 
templum, vetere inter accolas fama, Jovis Ditis ; namque et 
5 muliebrem effigiem assistere, quam plerique Proserpinam 
vocent. Sed Ptolemaeus, ut sunt ingenia regum, pronus 
ad formidinem, ubi securitas rediit voluptatum quam re- 
ligionum appetens, negligere paulatira aliasque ad curaa 
animum vertere, donee eadem species terribilior jam et 

10 instantior exitium ipsi regnoque denuntiaret, ni jussa patra- 
rentur. Turn legatos et dona Scydrothemidi regi (is tunc 
Sinopensibus imperitabat) expediri jubet ; praecepitque navi- 
gaturis, ut Pythium Apollinem adeant. Illis mare secundum, 
sors oraculi haud ambigua : " Irent, simulacrumque patris 

15 sui reveherent, sororis relinquerent. ,, 

LXXXIV. Ut Sinopen venere, munera, preces, mandata 
regis sui Scydrothemidi allegant. Qui versus animi modo 
numen pavescere, modo minis adversantis populi terreri ; 
saepe donis promissisque legatorum flectebatur. Atque in- 

20 terim triennio exacto, Ptolemaeus non studium, non preces 
omittere. Dignitatem legatorum, numerum navium, auri 
pondus augebat. Turn minax facies Scydrothemidi offertur, 
ne destinata deo ultra moraretur. Cunctantem varia per- 
nicies morbique et manifesta coelestium ira graviorque in 

25 dies fatigabat. Advocata concione, jussa numinis, suos 
Ptolemaeique visus, ingruentia mala exponit. Vulgus ad- 
versari regem, invidere Aegypto, sibi metuere templumque 
circumsedere. Major hinc fama tradidit deum ipsum ap- 
pulsas littori naves sponte conscendisse. Mirum inde dictu, 

30 tertio die tantum maris emensi Alexandria m appelluntur. 
Templum pro magnitudine urbis exstructum loco, cui no- 
men Rhacotis : fuerat illic sacellum Serapidi atque Isidi 
antiquitus sacratum. Haec de origine et advectu dei cele- 
berrima. Nee sum ignarus esse quosdam qui Seleucia urbe 

35 Syriae accitum, regnante Ptolemaeo quern tertia aetas tulit : 
alii auctorem eundem Ptolemaeum, sedem ex qua transie- 
nt Memphim perhibent, inclitam olim et veteris Aegypti 
columen. Deum ipsum multi Aesculapium, quod medeatur 



A. C. 70.] LIBER IV. CAP. LXXXV, LXXXVI. 213 

aegris corporibus ; quidam Osirin, antiquissimum illis gen- 
tibus numen ; plerique Jovem, ut rerum omnium potentem ; 
plurimi Ditem patrem, insignibus quae in ipso manifesta, aut 
per ambages conjectant. 

LXXXY. At Domitianus Mucianusque, antequam Alpibus 5 
propinquarent, prosperos rerum in Treveris gestarum nun- 
tios accepere. Praecipua victoriae fides dux hostium Valen- 
tinus, nequaquam abjecto animo, quos spiritus gessisset, 
vultu ferebat. Auditus ideo tantum ut nosceretur inge- 
nium ejus, damnatusque, inter ipsum supplicium, expro- 10 
branti cuidam patriam ejus cap tarn, " accipere se solatium 
mortis" respondit. Sed Mucianus quod diu occultaverat, 
ut recens exprompsit : " quoniam benignitate deum fractae 
vires hostium forent, parum decore Domitianum, confecto 
prope bello, alienae gloriae interventurum. Si status imperii 15 
aut salus Galliarum in discrimine verteretur, debuisse Cae- 
sarem in acie stare : Canninefates Batavosque minoribus 
ducibus delegandos. Ipse Lugduni vim fortunamque prin- 
cipatus e proximo ostentaret, nee parvis periculis immixtus 
et majoribus non defuturus." 20 

LXXXVI. Intelligebantur artes ; sed pars obsequii in eo, 
ne deprehenderentur : ita Lugdunum ventum. Unde credi- 
tur Domitianus occultis ad Cerialem nuntiis fidem ejus 
tentavisse, an praesenti sibi exercitum imperiumque tradi- 
turus foret : qua cogitatione bellum ad vers us patrem agita- 25 
verit, an opes viresque adversus fratrem in incerto fuit : 
nam Cerialis salubri temperamento elusit ut vana pueriliter 
cupientem. Domitianus sperni a senioribus juventam suam 
cernens, modica quoque et usurpata antea munia imperii 
omittebat, simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine in altitudinem 30 
conditus, studiumque literarum et amorem carminum simu- 
lans, quo velaret animum et fratris aemulationi subducere- 
tur, cujus disparem mitioremque naturam contra interpreta- 
batur. % 






C. COMELII TACITI 

HISTORIARUM 

LIBER QUINTUS. 



BREVIARIUM LIBRI. 

Cap I. Interim Titus cum valido exercitu prope Hierosolyma castra 
facit. II — V. Judaicae gentis primordia, sacra, instituta, deque iis 
maligna profanorum judicia. VI, VII. Descriptio terrae finiumque, 
balsami, Libani, Jordanis, lacus bitumen egerentis, camporum torri- 
dorum, fructuum in cinerem vanescentium, Beli amnis, cujus arenae 
vitro inservientes. VIII. Hierosolyma genti caput. Immensae opu- 
lentiae templum. Judaeorum sub aliis gentibus et suis regibus fata ; 
IX, varia sors sub Romanis. X — XII. Bellum sub Gessio Floro 
procuratore ortum. Titus Judaeos, in urbem compulsos, obsidet. 
Hierosolymorum munitiones, copiae, duces. XIII. Prodigia ante 
obsidium. 

XIV. Interea Civil is, reparato per Germaniam exercitu, bellum reno- 
vat. XV. Manum consent cum Ceriale, satis prospere. Uterque 
ad maturandum summae rei discrimen erectus, XVI, XVII, aciem 
instruit, suos alloquitur. XVIII. Fit atrox pugna, qua, proditione 
cujusdam Batavi, Germani vincuntur. XIX, XX. Civilis, in Bata- 
vorum insulam transgressus, praesidia Romanorum invadit, Verace, 
Classico, Tutore suffultus. XXI. Ambiguum proelium. Subvenit 
Cerialis fortunamque vertit ; XXII, at parum providus ferme oppri- 
mitur. XXIII. Civilis navalem aciem ostentat, sed a Ceriale trans 
Rhenum pellitur. Hie insulam Batavorum populatus, superfuso 
amne, novum discrimen adit. XXIV, XXV. Turn hostium animos 
occultis nuntiis labefactat. XXVI. Civilis, petito colloquio, ad de- 
ditionem, se pronum profitetur. 

Bjusdem anni principio Caesar Titus perdoraandae Ju- 

daeae delectus a patre et privatis utriusque rebus militia 

clarus, majore turn vi famaque agebat, certantibus provin- 

ciarum et exercituum studiis. Atque ipse, ut super fortu- 

5 nam crederetur, decorum se promptumque in armis osten- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. II, III. 215 

debat, comitate et alloquiis officia provocans, ac plerumque 
in opere, in agmine gregario militi mixtus, incorrupto ducis 
honore. Tres eum in Judaea legiones, quinta et decima et 
quint'adecima, vetus Yespasiani miles, excepere. Addidit 
e Syria duodecimam et abductos Alexandria duoetvicesi- 5 
manos tertianosque. Comitabantur viginti sociae cohortes, 
octo equitum alae, simul Agrippa Sobemusque reges, et 
auxilia regis Antiocbi, validaque et solito inter accolas odio 
infensa Judaeis Arabum manus; multi, quos urbe atque 
Italia sua quemque spes acciverat occupandi Principem 10 
adhuc vacuum. His cum copiis fines bostium ingressus 
composito agmine, cuncta explorans paratusque decernere, 
haud procul Hierosolymis castra facit. 

II. Sed quoniam famosae urbis supremum diem tradituri 
sumus, congruens videtur primordia ejus aperire. Judaeos 15 
Creta insula profugos novissima Libyae insedisse memorant, 
qua tempestate Saturnus vi Jovis pulsus cesserit regnis. 
Argumentum e nomine petitur: inclitum in Creta Idam 
montem ; accolas Idaeos aucto in barbarum cognomento 
Judaeos vocitari. Quidam, regnante Iside, exundantem 20 
per Aegyptum multitudinem, ducibus Hierosolymo ac Juda, 
proximas in terras exoneratam. Plerique Aethiopum pro- 
lem, quos rege Cepbeo metus atque odium mutare sedes 
perpulerit. Sunt qui tradant Assyrios convenas, indigum 
agrorum populum, parte Aegypti potitos, mox proprias 25 
urbes Hebraeasque terras et propiora Syriae coluisse. 
Clara alii Judaeorum initia Solymos, carminibus Homeri 
celebratam gentem, conditae urbi Hierosolymam nomen 

e suo fecisse. 

III. Plurimi auc tores consentiunt, orta per Aegyptum 30 
tabe quae corpora foedaret, regem Bocchorim adito Ham- 
monis oraculo remedium petentem, purgare regnum et id 
genus bominum ut in visum deis alias in terras avebere 
jussum. Sic conquisitum collectumque vulgus, postquam 
vastis locis relictum sit, ceteris per lacrimas torpentibus, 35 
Moysen unum exsulum monuisse, ne quam deorum homi- 
numve opem exspectarent utrisque deserti, sed sibimet, duci 
coelesti, crederent, primo cujus auxilio praesentes miserias 



216 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823, 

pepulissent. Assensere, atque omnium ignari fortuitum 
iter incipiunt. Sed nihil aeque quam inopia aquae fatiga- 
bat. Jamque haud procul exitio totis campis procubuerant, 
cum grex asinorum agrestium e pastu in rupem nemore 
5 opacam concessit. Secutus Moyses conjectura herbidi soli 
largas aquarum venas aperit. Id levamen : et continuum 
sex dierum iter emensi, septimo pulsis cultoribus obtinuere 
terras, in quis urbs et templum dicata. 

IV. Moyses, quo sibi in posterum gentem firmaret, novos 
10 ritus contrariosque ceteris mortalibus indidit. Profana illic 

omnia, quae apud nos sacra ; rursum concessa apud illos, 
quae nobis incesta. Effigiem animalis, quo monstrante er- 
rorem sitimque depulerant, penetrali sacravere, caeso ariete 
velut in contumeliam Hammonis. Bos quoque immolatur, 

15 quia Aegyptii A pin colunt. Sue abstinent merito cladis, 
qua ipsos scabies quondam turpaverat, cui id animal ob- 
noxium. Longam olim famem crebris adhuc jejuniis faten- 
tur ; et raptarum frugum argumentum panis Judaicus nullo 
fermento detinetur. Septimo die otium placuisse ferunt, 

20 quia is finem laborum tulerit ; dein blandiente inertia septi- 
mum quoque annum ignaviae datum. Alii honorem eum 
Saturno haberi, seu principia religionis tradentibus Idaeis, 
quos cum Saturno pulsos et conditores gentis accepimus, 
seu quod de septem sideribus quis mortales reguntur, al- 

25 tissimo orbe et praecipua potentia stella Saturni feratur, ac 
pleraque coelestium vim suam et cursum septimos per nu- 
meros confidant. 

V. Hi ritus, quoquo modo indue ti, antiquitate defendun- 
tur : cetera instituta sinistra, foeda, pravitate valuere. Nam 

30 pessimus quisque, spretis religionibus patriis, tributa et 
stipes illuc gerebant ; unde auctae Judaeorum res, et quia 
apud ipsos fides obstinata, misericordia in promptu, sed 
adversus omnes alios hostile odium. Separati epulis, dis- 
creti cubilibus, projectissima ad libidinem gens, alienarum 

35 concubitu abstinent ; inter se nihil illicitum. Circumcidere 
genitalia instituerunt, ut diversitate noscantur. Transgressi 
in morem eorum idem usurpant, nee quicquam prius im- 
buuntur quam contemnere deos, exuere patriam, parentes, 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. VI. 217 

liberos, fratres, vilia habere. Augend ae tamen multitudini 
eonsulitur. Nam et necare quenquam ex agnatis nefas, 
animosque proelio aut suppliciis peremptorum aeternos pu- 
tant. Hinc generandi amor et moriendi contemptus. Cor- 
pora condere quam cremare, e more Aegyptio; eademque 5 
cura et de infernis persuasio : coelestium contra. Aegyptii 
pleraque animalia effigiesque compositas venerantur ; Judaei 
mente sola unumque numen intelligunt. Profanos, qui 
deum imagines mortalibus materiis in species hominum 
effingant : summum illud et aeternum neque imitabile neque 10 
interiturum. Igitur nulla simulacra urbibus suis, nedum 
templis sinunt. Non regibus haec adulatio, non Caesaribus 
honor. Sed quia sacerdotes eorum tibia tympanisque con- 
einebant, hedera vinciebantur vitisque aurea templo reperta, 
Liberum Patrem coli domitorem Orientis, quidam arbitrati 15 
sunt, nequaquam congruentibus institutis : quippe Liber 
festos laetosque ritus posuit, Judaeorum mos absurdus sor- 
didusque. 

VI. Terra iinesque, qua ad Orientem vergunt, Arabia 
terminantur; a meridie Aegyptus objacet; aboccasu Phoe- 20 
nices et mare ; septentrionem a latere Syriae longe pros- 
pectant. Corpora hominum salubria et ferentia laborum : 
rari imbres, uber solum : fruges nostrum ad morem, prae- 
terque eas balsamum et palmae. Palmetis proceritas et 
decor. Balsamum modica arbor : ut quisque ramus intu- 25 
muit, si vim ferri adhibeas, pavent venae ; fragmine lapidis 
aut testa aperiuntur : humor in usu medentium est. Prae- 
cipuum montium Libanum erigit, mirum dictu, tantos inter 
ardores opacum fidumque nivibus. Idem amnem Jordanen 
alit funditque. Nee Jordanes pelago accipitur, sed unum 30 
atque alteram lacum integer perfluit, tertio retinetur. Lacus 
immenso ambitu, specie maris, sapore corruptior, gravitate 
odoris accolis pestifer, neque vento impellitur neque pisces 
aut suetas aquis volucres patitur. Incertae undae super- 
jacta, ut solido, ferunt ; periti imperitique nandi perinde 35 
attolluntur. Certo anni bitumen egerit ; cujus legendi 
usum, ut ceteras artes, experientia docuit. Ater suapte 
natura liquor et sparso aceto concretus innatat : hunc manu 

19 



218 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

cap turn, quibus ea cura, in summa navis trahiuit. Inde, 
nullo juvante, influit oneratque, donee abscindas : nee ab- 
scindere aere ferrove possis : fugit cruorem vestemque in- 
fectam sanguine, quo feminae per menses exsolvuntur : sic 
5 veteres auetores. Sed gnari locorum tradunt undantes 
bitumine moles pelli manuque trahi ad littus : mox, ubi 
vapore terrae, vi solis inaruerint, securibus cuneisque, ut 
trabes aut saxa, discindi. 

VII. Haud procul inde campi, quos ferunt, olim uberes 
10 magnisque urbibus habitatos, fulminum jactu arsisse; et 

manere vestigia, terramque ipsam, specie torridam, vim 
frugiferam perdidisse. Nam cuncta sponte edita aut manu 
sata, sive berba tenus aut flore, seu solitam in speciem 
adolevere, atra et inania velut in cinerem vanescunt. Ego 

15 sicut inclitas quondam urbes igne coelesti flagrasse conces- 
serim, ita halitu lacus infici terram, corrumpi superfusum 
spiritum, eoque foetus segetum et autumni putrescere reor, 
solo coeloque juxta gravi. Et Belus amnis Judaico mari 
illabitur ; circa cujus os collectae arenae admixto nitro in 

20 vitrum excoquuntur : modicum id littus et egerentibus inex- 
haustum. 

VIII. Magna pars Judaeae vicis dispergitur : habent et 
oppida. Hierosolyma genti caput. Illic immensae opu- 
lentiae templum, et primis munimentis urbs, dein regia, 

25 templum intimis clausum : ad fores tantum Judaeo aditus ; 
limine, praeter sacerdotes, arcebantur. Dum Assyrios penes 
Medosque et Persas Oriens fuit, despectissima pars servien- 
tium : postquam Macedones praepotuere, rex Antiochus 
demere superstitionem et mores Graecorum dare annixus, 

30 quo minus teterrimam gentem in melius mutaret, Parthorum 
bello prohibitus est : nam ea tempestate Arsaces desciverat. 
Turn Judaei, Macedonibus invalidis, Parthis nondum adultis 
(et Romani procul erant) sibi ipsi reges imposuere; qui 
mobilitate vulgi expulsi, resumpta per arma dominatione, 

35 fugas civium, urbium eversiones, fratrum, conjugum, pa- 
rentum neces aliaque solita regibus ausi, superstitionem 
fovebant, quia honor sacerdotii firmamentum potentiae as- 
sumebatur. 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. IX, X, XI. 219 

IX. Romanorum primus Cn. Pompeius Judaeos domuit, 
templumque jure victoriae ingressus est. Inde vulgatum, 
nulla intus deum effigie, vacuam sedem et inania arcana. 
Muri Hierosolymorum diruti, delubrum mansit. Mox civili 
inter nos bello, postquam in ditionem M. Antonii provinciae 5 
cesserant, rex Parthorum Pacorus Judaea potitus, interfec- 
tusque a P. Ventidio, et Parthi trans Euphraten redacti : 
Judaeos C. Sosius subegit. Regnum ab Antonio Herodi 
datum victor Augustus auxit. Post mortem Herodis, nihil 
/exspectato Caesare, Simo quidam regium nomen invaserat. 10 
Is a Quintilio Varo obtinente Syriam punitus ; et gentem 
coercitam liberi Herodis tripartito rexere. Sub Tiberio 
quies : dein jussi a C. Caesare effigiem ejus in templo lo- 
care, arma potius sump sere ; quern motum Caesaris mors 
diremit. Claudius, defunctis regibus aut ad modicum re- 15 
dactis, Judaeam provinciam equitibus Romanis aut libertis 
permisit ; e quibus Antonius Felix, per omnem saevitiam 

ac libidinem, jus regium servili ingenio exercuit, Drusilla 
Cleopatrae et Antonii nepte in matrimonium accepta, ut 
ejusdem Antonii Felix progener, Claudius nepos esset. 20 

X. Duravit tamen patientia Judaeis usque ad Gessium 
Florum procuratorem. Sub eo bellum ortum ; et compri- 
mere coeptantem Cestium Galium Syriae legatum varia 
proelia ac saepius adversa excepere. Qui ubi fato aut tae- 
dio occidit, missu Neronis Vespasianus fortuna famaque et 25 
egregiis ministris intra duas aestates cuncta camporum om- 
nesque praeter Hierosolymam urbes victore exercitu tenebat. 
Proximus annus civili bello intentus, quantum ad Judaeos, 
per otium transiit. Pace per Italiam parta et externae 
curae rediere. Augebat iras, quod soli Judaei non cessis- 30 
sent. Simul manere apud exercitus Titum ad omnes prin- 
cipatus novi eventus casusve utilius videbatur. Igitur 
castris, uti diximus, ante moenia Hierosolymorum positis, 
instructas legiones ostentavit. 

XI. Judaei sub ipsos muros struxere aciem, rebus secun- 35 
dis longius ausuri, et si pellerentur, parato perfugio. Missus 

in eos eques cum expeditis cohortibus ambigue certavit. 
Mox cessere hostes, et sequentibus diebus crebra pro portis 



220 C. CORN. TACITI HISTOR. [a. U. 823. 

proelia serebant, donee assiduis damnis intra moenia pelle- 
rentur. Romani ad oppugnandum versi ; neque enim dig- 
num videbatur famem hostium opperiri ; poscebantque pe- 
ricula, pars virtute, multi ferocia et cupidine praemiorum. 
5 Ipsi Tito Roma et opes voluptatesque ante oculos ; ac, ni 
statim Hierosolyma conciderent, morari videbantur. Sed 
urbem arduam situ opera molesque firmaverant, quis vel 
plana satis munirentur. Nam duos colles immensum edi- 
tos claudebant muri per artem obliqui aut introrsus sinuati, 

10 ut latera oppugnantium ad ictus patescerent. Extrema 
rupis abrupta ; et turres, ubi mons juvisset, in sexaginta 
pedes, inter devexa in centenos vicenosque attollebantur, 
mira specie, ac procul intuentibus pares. Alia intus moe- 
nia, regiae circumjecta, conspicuoque fastigio turris Antonia, 

15 in honorem M. Antonii ab Herode appellata. 

XII. Templum in modum arcis propriique muri, labore 
et opere ante alios : ipsae porticus, quis templum ambie- 
batur, egregium propugnaculum. Fons perennis aquae, 
cavati sub terra montes, et piscinae cisternaeque servandis 

20 imbribus : praeviderant conditores ex diversitate morum 
crebra bella : inde cuncta quamvis adversus longum obsi- 
dium : et a Pompeio expugnatis metus atque usus pleraque 
monstravere. Atque per avaritiam Claudianorum tempo- 
rum empto jure muniendi struxere muros in pace tanquam 

25 ad bellum, magna colluvie et ceterarum urbium clade aucti : 
nam pervicacissimus quisque illuc perfugerat, eoque sediti- 
osius agebant. Tres duces, totidem exercitus. Extrema 
et latissima moenium Simo, quern et Bargioram vocabant, 
mediam urbem Joannes, templum Eleazarus firmaverat. 

30 Multitudine et armis Joannes ac Simo, Eleazarus loco pol- 
lebat. Sed proelia, dolus, incendia inter ipsos, et magna 
vis frumenti ambusta. Mox Joannes, missis per speciem 
sacrificandi qui Eleazarum manumque ejus obtruncarent, 
templo potitur : ita in duas factiones civitas discessit, do- 

35 nee propinquantibus Romanis, bellum externum concordiam 
pareret. 

XIII. Evenerant prodigia, quae neque hostiis neque votis 
piare fas liabet gens superstitioni obnoxia, religionibus ad- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. XIV, XV. , 221 

versa. Yisae per coelum concurrere acies, rutilantia anna, 
et subito nubium igne collucere templum. Exapertae re- 
pente delubri fores et audita major humanavox, H excedere 
deos :" simul ingens motus excedentium. Quae pauci in 
metum trahebant : pluribus persuasio inerat antiquis sa- 5 
cerdotum literis contineri eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesce- 
ret Oriens profectique Judaea rerum potirentur : quae am- 
bages Vespasianum ac Titum praedixerat. Sed vulgus, 
more humanae cupidinis, sibi tantam fatorum magnitudi- 
nem interpretati, ne adversis quid em ad vera mutabantur. 10 
Multitudinem obsessorum, omnis aetatis, virile ac muliebre 
secus, sexcenta millia fuisse accepimus. Arma cunctis qui 
ferre possent ; et plures quam pro numero audebant. Ob- 
stinatio viris feminisque par ; ac si transferre sedes coge- 
rentur, major vitae metus quam mortis. Hanc adversus 15 
urbem gentemque Caesar Titus, quando impetus et subita 
belli locus abnueret, aggeribus vineisque certare statuit. 
Dividuntur legionibus munia, et quies proeliorum fuit, do- 
nee cuncta expugnandis urbibus reperta apud veteres aut 
no vis ingeniis struerentur. 20 

XIY. At Civilis post malam in Treveris pugnam, repa- 
rato per Germaniam exercitu, apud Vetera castra consedit, 
tutus loco, et ut memoria prosperarum illic rerum auges- 
cerent barbarorum animi. Secutus est eodem Cerialis, du- 
plicatis copiis adventu secundae et sextae et quartaedecimae 25 
legionum. Cohortesque et alae jampridem accitae post 
vietoriam prop era verant. Neuter ducum cunctator. Sed 
arcebat latitudo camporum suopte ingenio humentium. 
Addiderat Civilis obliquam in Rhenum molem, cujus ob- 
jectu revolutus amnis adjacentibus superfunderetur. Ea 30 
loci forma, incertis vadis subdola et nobis adversa : quippe 
miles Romanus armis gravis et nandi pavidus ; Germanos 
fluminibus suetos levitas armorum et proceritas corporum 
attollit. 

XV. Igitur lacessentibus Batavis, ferocissimo cuique nos- 35 
trorum coeptum certamen ; deinde orta trepidatio, cum 
praealtis paludibus arma, equi haurirentur. Germani notis 
vadis persultabant, omissa plerumque fronte, latera ac ter- 

19* 



222 C. CORN. TACITI histor. [a. u. 823. 

ga circumvenientes : neque ut in pedestri acie cominus 
certabatur; sed tanquam navali pugna, vagi inter undas 
aut, si quid stabile occurrebat, totis illic corporibus nitentes, 
vulnerati cum integris, periti nandi cum ignaris, in mutuam 
5 perniciem implicabantur. Minor tamen quam pro tumultu 
caedes, quia non ausi egredi paludem Germani in castra 
rediere. Ejus proelii eventus utrumque ducem diversis 
animi motibus ad maturandum summae rei discrimen erexit. 
Civilis instare fortunae ; Cerialis abolere ignominiam. Ger- 
10 mani prosperis feroces ; Romanos pudor excitaverat. Nox 
apud barbaros cantu aut clamore, nostris per iram et minas 
acta. 

XVI. Postera luce Cerialis equite et auxiliariis cohortibus 
frontem explet ; in secunda acie legiones locatae ; dux sibi 

15 delectos retinuerat ad improvisa. Civilis haud porrecto 
agmine sed cuneis astitit : Batavi Gugernique in dextro ; 
laeva ac propiora fluminis Transrhenani tenuere. Exhorta- 
tio ducum non more concionis apud universos, sed ut quos- 
que suorum advehebantur. Cerialis veterem Romani no- 

20 minis gloriam, antiquas recentesque victorias : " ut perfidum, 
ignavum, Return hostem in aeternum exciderent, ultione 
magis quam proelio, opus esse. Pauciores nuper cum 
pluribus certasse : attamen fusos Germanos, quod roboris 
fuerit. Superesse, qui fugam animis, qui vulnera tergo 

25 ferant." Proprios inde stimulos legionibus admovebat, 
domitores Britanniae quartadecimanos appellans ; princi- 
pem Galbam sextae legionis auctoritate factum ; ilia pri- 
mum acie secundanos nova signa novamque aquilam dica- 
turos. Hinc praevectus ad Germanicum exercitum manus 

30 tendebat, ut suam ripam, sua castra sanguine hostium re- 
ciperarent. Alacrior omnium clamor, quis vel ex longa 
pace proelii cupido vel fessis bello pacis amor, praemiaque 
et quies in posterum sperabantur. 

XVII. Nee Civilis silentem struxit aciem, locum pugnae 
35 testem virtutis ciens : " stare Germanos Batavosque super 

vestigia gloriae, cineres ossaque legionum calcantes ; quo- 
cumque oculos Romanus intenderet, captivitatem cladem- 
que et dira omnia obversari. Ne terrerentur vario Trever- 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. XVIII, XIX. 223 

ici proelii eventu : suam illic victoriam Germanis obstitisse, 
dum, omissis telis, praeda manus impediunt: sed cuncta 
mox prospera et hosti contraria evenisse. Quae provideri 
astu ducis oportuerit, provisa, campos madentes et ipsis 
gnaros, paludes hostibus noxias, Rhenum et Germaniae 5 
deos in aspectu ; quorum numine capesserent pugnam, con- 
jugum, parentum, patriae memores : ilium diem aut glorio- 
sissimum inter majores aut ignominiosum apud posteros 
fore." Ubi sono armorum tripudiisque (ita illis mos) ap- 
probata sunt dicta, saxis glandibusque et ceteris missilibus 10 
proelium incipitur, neque nostro milite paludem ingredien- 
te, et Germanis, ut elicerent, laces sentibus. 

XVIII. Absumptis quae jaciuntur, et ardescente pugna, 
procursum ab hoste infestius : immensis corporibus et prae- 
longis hastis fluitantem labantemque militem eminus fodie- 15 
bant; simul e mole, quam eductam in Rhenum retulimus, 
Bructerorum cuneus tranatavit : turbata ibi res, et pelleba- 
tur sociarum cohortium acies, cum legiones pugnam exci- 
piunt, suppressaque hostium ferocia proelium aequatur. 
Inter quae perfuga Batavus adiit Cerialem, terga hostium 20 
promittens, si extremo paludis eques mitteretur: solidum 
ilia, et Gugernos, quibus custodia obvenisset, parum inten- 
tos. Duae alae cum perfuga missae incauto hosti circum- 

f unduntur ; quod ubi clamore cognitum, legiones a fronte 
incubuere, pulsique Germani Rhenum fuga petebant. De- 25 
bellatum eo die foret, si Romana classis sequi maturasset. 
Ne eques quidem institit, repente fusis imbribus et propin- 
qua nocte. 

XIX. Postera die quartadecima legio in superiorem pro- 
vinciam Gallo Annio missa ; Cerialis exercitum decima ex 30 
Hispania legio supplevit. Civili Chaucorum auxilia venere. 
Non tamen ausus oppidum Batavorum armis tueri, raptis 
quae ferri poterant, ceteris injecto igni, in insulam con- 
cessit, gnarus deese naves efficiendo ponti, neque exercitum 
Romanum aliter transmissurum : quin et diruit molem a 35 
Druso Germanico factam, Rhenumque prono alveo in Gal- 
Ham ruentem, disjectis quae morabantur, efFudit. Sic 
velut abacto amne, tenuis alveus insulam inter Germanos- 



224 C. CORN. TACITI histor. [a. u. 823. 

que continentium terrarum speciem fecerat. Transiere 
Rhenum Tutor quoque et Classicus et centum tredecim 
Treverorum senatores ; in quis fuit Alpinus Montanus, 
quern a Primo Antonio missum in Gallias superius memo- 
5 ravimus. Comitabatur eum f rater D. Alpinus. Simul 
ceteri miseratione ac donis auxilia concibant inter gentes 
periculorum avidas. 

XX. Tantumque belli superfuit, ut praesidia cohortium, 
alarum, legionum uno die Civilis quadripartito invaserit, 

1 decimam legionem Arenaci, secundam Batavoduri, et 
Grinnes Yadamque cohortium alarumque castra, ita divisis 
copiis, ut ipse et Verax, sorore ejus genitus, Classicusque ac 
Tutor suam quisque manum traherent ; nee omnia patrandi 
fiducia, sed multa ausis aliqua in parte fortunam affore. 

15 Simul Cerialem neque satis cautum, et pluribus nuntiis hue 
illuc cursantem posse medio intercipi. Quibus obvenerant 
castra decumanorum, oppugnationem legionis arduam rati, 
egressum militem et caedendis materiis operatum turbavere, 
occiso praefecto castrorum et quinque primoribus centurio- 

20 num paucisque militibus. Ceteri se munimentis defendere. 
Et interim Germanorum manus Batavoduri rumpere in- 
choatum pontem nitebantur. Ambiguum proelium nox 
diremit. 

XXI. Plus discriminis apud Grinnes Vadamque. Va- 
25 dam Civilis, Grinnes Classicus oppugnabant: nee sisti 

poterant, interfecto fortissimo quoque ; in quis Briganticus 
praefectus alae ceciderat, quern fidum Romanis et Civili 
avunculo infensum diximus. Sed ubi Cerialis cum delecta 
equitum manu subvenit, versa for tuna praecipites Germani 

30 in amnem aguntur. Civilis, dum fugientes retentat, agni- 
tus petitusque telis, relicto equo tranatavit : idem Veracis 
effugium. Tutorem Classicumque appulsae lintres vexere. 
Ne turn quidem Romana classis pugnae affuit, ut jussum 
erat: sed obstitit formido et remiges per alia militiae 

35 munia dispersi. Sane Cerialis parum temporis ad exse- 
quenda imperia dabat, subitus consiliis sed eventu clarus. 
Aderat fortuna etiam ubi artes defuissent : hinc ipsi exer- 
cituique minor cura disciplinae. Et paucos post dies, 



A. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. XXII, XXIII. 225 

quanquam periculum captivitatis evasisset, infamiam non 
vitavit. 

XXII. Profectus Novesium Bonnamque ad visenda cas- 
tra, quae hiematuris legiordbus erigebantur, navibus remea- 
bat, disjecto agmine, incuriosis vigiliis. Animadversum 5 
id Germanis ; et insidias composuere. Electa nox atra 
nubibus, et prono amne rapti, nullo prohibente, vallum in- 
eunt. Prima caedes astu adjuta: incisis tabernaculorum 
funibus, suismet tentoriis coopertos trucidabant. Aliud 
agmen turbare classem, injicere vincla, trahere puppes. 10 
Utque ad fallendum silentio, ita coepta caede, quo plus 
terroris adderent, cuncta clamoribus miscebant. Romani 
vulneribus exciti quaerunt anna, ruunt per vias, pauei or- 
natu militari, plerique circum brachia torta veste et strictis 
mucronibus. Dux semisomnus ac prope intectus errore 15 
hostium servatur. Namque praetoriam navem vexillo in- 
signem, illic ducem rati, abripiunt. Cerialis alibi noctem 
egerat, ut plerique credidere, ob stuprum Claudiae Sacra- 
tae mulieris Ubiae. Yigiles flagitium suum ducis dedecore 
excusabant, tanquam jussi silere, ne quietem ejus turbarent: 20 
ita intermisso signo et vocibus se quoque in somnum lapsos. 
Multa luce revecti hostes, cap ti vis navibus, praetoriam tri- 
remem flumine Luppia donum Veledae traxere. 

XXIII. Civilem cupido incessit navalem aciem ostentandi. 
Complet, quod biremium, quaeque simplici ordine ageban- 25 
tur. Adjecta ingens lintrium vis, tricenos quadragenosque 
ferentium: armamenta Liburnicis solita : et simul captae 
lintres sagulis versicoloribus haud indecore pro velis juva- 
bantur. Spatium velut aequoris electum, quo Mosae flumi- 
nis os amnem Rhenum Oceano affundit. Causa instruen- 30 
dae classis, super insitam genti vanitatem, ut eo terrore 
commeatus Gallia adventantes interciperentur. Cerialis mi- 
raculo magis quam metu direxit classem numero imparem, 
usu remigum, gubernatorum arte, navium magnitudine 
potiorem. His flumen secundum ; illi vento agebantur. 35 
Sic praevecti, ten tat o levium telorum jactu, tlirimuntur. 
Civilis nihil ultra ausus trans Rhenum concessit. Cerialis 
insulam Batavorum hostiliter populatus, agros villasque 



226 C. CORN. TACITI histor. [a. u. 823. 

Civilis intactos nota arte ducum sinebat, cum interim flexu 
autumni et crebris per hiemem imbribus, superfusus amnis 
palustrem humilemque insulam in faciem stagni opplevit : 
nee classis aut commeatus aderant, castraque in piano sita 
5 vi fluminis differebantur. 

XXIY. Potuisse tunc opprimi legiones, et voluisse Ger- 
manos, sed dolo a se flexos imputavit Civilis. Neque ab- 
horret vero, quando paucis post diebus deditio insecuta est. 
Nam Cerialis per occultos nuntios Batavis pacem, Civili 

10 veniam ostentans, Veledam propinquosque monebat fortu- 
nam belli, tot cladibus adversam, opportuno erga populum 
Romanum merito mutare. " Caesos Treveros, receptos 
Ubios, ereptam Batavis patriam ; neque aliud Civilis amici- 
tia paratum quam vulnera, fugas, luctus : exsulem eum et 

15 extorrem recipientibus oneri ; et satis peccavisse, quod 
totiens Rhenum transcenderint : si quid ultra moliantur, 
inde injuriam et culpam, hinc ultionem et deos fore." 

XXV. Miscebantur minis promissa. Et, concussa Trans- 
rhenanorum fide, inter Batavos quoque sermones orti : 

20 " non prorogandam ultra ruinam : nee posse ab una natione 
totius orbis servitium depelli. Quid profectum caede et 
incendiis legionum, nisi ut plures validioresque accirentur ? 
Si Vespasiano bellum navaverint, Vespasianum rerum 
potiri ; sin populum Romanum armis vocent, quotam 

25 partem generis humani Batavos esse ? respicerent Raetos 
Noricosque et ceterorum onera sociorum : sibi non tributa, 
sed virtutem et viros indici : proximum id libertati ; et si 
dominorum electio sit, honestius principes Romanorum 
quam Germanorum feminas tolerant Haec vulgus. Pro- 

30 ceres atrociora : " Civilis rabie semet in anna trusos : ilium 
domesticis malis excidium gentis opposuisse : tunc infensos 
Batavis deos, cum obsiderentur legiones, interficerentur 
legati, bellum uni necessarium, ferale ipsis sumeretur. 
Ventum ad extrema, ni resipiscere incipiant, et noxii capi- 

35 tis poena poenitentiam fateantur." 

XXVI. Non fefellit Civilem ea inclinatio, et praevenire 
statuit, super taedium malorum* etiam spe vitae, quae ple- 
rumque magnos animos infringit. Petito colloquio, scin- 



k. C. 70.] LIBER V. CAP. XXVI. 227 

ditur Nabaliae fluminis pons ; in cujus abrupta progressi 
duces, et Civilis ita coepit : " Si apud Vitellii legatum de- 
fenderer, neque facto meo venia, neque dictis fides debeba- 
tur. Cuncta inter nos inimica, hostilia, ab illo coepta, a me 
aucta erant. Erga Yespasianum vetus mihi observantia ; 5 
et cum privatus esset, amici vocabamur. Hoc Primo Anto- 
nio notum, cujus epistolis ad bellum actus sum, ne Germa- 
nicae legiones et Gallica juventus Alpes transcenderent. 
Quae Antonius epistolis, Hordeonius Flaccus praesens mo- 
nebat, arma in Germania movi, quae Mucianus in Syria, 10 
Aponius in Moesia, Flavianus in Pannonia. ,, * * * 



NOTES. 



NOTES. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 

The historical writings of Tacitus, as we now have them, consist of frag- 
ments of two distinct yet not wholly disconnected works, " the Histories" 
and " the Annals." The former originally comprised fourteen Books, and 
embraced a period of twenty-eight years, from the second consulship of Galba 
to the death of Domitian, of which only the first four Books and a small portion 
of the fifth remain, containing the history of only about one year. The latter 
consisted, when entire, of sixteen Books, and extended over the space of fifty- 
four years, from the death of Augustus to the close of the reign of Nero ; but 
four entire Books are lost, from the seventh to the tenth inclusive, and the 
fifth, eleventh and sixteenth are preserved only in part. The Histories had 
for their subject the civil wars of Galba, Otho and Vitellius, and the re-estab- 
lishment of the imperial power under the Flavian family (His. 1, 1). The 
subject of the Annals was the gradual corruption of morals and manners, and 
the consequent subversion, pari passu, of liberty and law under the Julian 
and Claudian families, till at length on the death of Nero the military gained 
the entire ascendency over the civil power, and the commander of the strong- 
est army seated himself on the throne in place of the undisputed hereditary 
succession of the Cassars (Ann. 1, 1. 2). If the author's life had been spared, 
it was his purpose to have written the Life of Augustus, as a sort of introduc- 
tion to his Annals (Ann. 3, 24), and the Biographies of Nerva and Trajan as a 
sequel to the Histories (His. 1, 1). But he did not live to execute either of 
these cherished plans. 

In the MSS. and early editions, the Annals and the Histories appear as one 
work, and the extant Books of both, counted in the same numerical series, 
bear the common inscription, sometimes of Annates or Historic or Acta 
Diurnalia, and sometimes only of the historian's name. They must have 
been so arranged and numbered, in some copies at least, as early as the age of 
Jerome (a. d. 331-420), for in his Commentary on Zachariah, 3, 14, that Chris- 
tian Father refers to Cornelius Tacitus, as having written the Lives of the 
Caesars from the death of Augustus to that of Domitian in thirty Books,* 
thus comprehending the two works in one, which covers the whole period of 
time belonging to both. But Tertullian, who flourished in the latter part of 

* It is chiefly from this number of Jerome, that we are able to make out the 
number of Books comprised in the original Histories. The Annals are known to 
have consisted of sixteen Books, which subtracted from thirty leave fourteen for 
the Histories. 



232 NOTES. 

the second century, cites the speculations of Tacitus touching the origin of the 
Jews, as occurring in the fifth Book of his Histories, and thus shows, that in 
his day the works were distinct and the Books were numbered separately, as 
they are now. And that they were intended to form separate treatises, is de- 
monstrated by incontrovertible evidence external and internal. This is suffi- 
ciently apparent from the introductory chapters, which are manifestly prefa- 
tory in both, and which mark the limits of the two works, as entirely distinct, 
though chronologically successive. Tacitus expressly calls his Annals by that 
name (Ann. 3, 65 ; 4, 32 ; 13, 31), while he refers to the Books in which he had 
composed the history of Domitian, as a separate work (Ann. 11, 11). And 
Pliny refers with equal explicitness to the latter under the title of Historiae 
(Ep. 7, 33). There remains therefore no reasonable doubt, that Tacitus him- 
self gave to his two great historical compositions the same distinguishing titles 
which they now bear. To the question, what distinction he thus intended to 
mark, different answers are returned by critics and defended with much learn- 
ing and zeal. 

One difference 6eems to lie on the face of the works, as chronologically re- 
lated to the author. The Histories cover the age of the historian himself; the 
Annals embrace a period anterior to his appearance on the stage of active 
life. And this distinction accords with the original and proper signification of 
the word history, which in Greek implies personal inspection or investigation, 
and which many Greek and Latin authors carefully distinguish, not only from 
tradition and hearsay, but also from the authentic records of bygone days.* 

Another obvious difference is suggested by the literal meaning of the word 
annals, which was originally applied to the yearly register of passing events 
kept by the Pontiffs (Aimales Maximi or Annales Pontificum), and then to 
the chronicles of Pictor, Piso and others who were the pioneers of the Roman 
historians, and which in its etymology implies a strictly chronological arrange- 
ment of the events that occur year by year. This also accords with the actual 
difference between the Histories and the Annals of Tacitus. The Histories 
narrate events according to their geographical connection, or the relation of 
cause and effect, or they adopt, on rhetorical principles, the arrangement 
which will produce the most picturesque and striking impression. The Annals, 
on the contrary, follow strictly the chronological order, relating under each 
year the events of that year and no other (cf. Ann. 4, 71 : suum quaque in 
annum referre), or if they depart from it, they offer such an apology, that the 
exception demonstrates the rule (cf. Ann. 12, 40). 

Other distinctions have been drawn between annals and history, such as 
these— that annals are a simple detail of facts, while history further investi- 
gates the causes and consequences of the events which are recorded ; and that, 
while annals are written in a straight-forward, inartificial and unadorned style, 
history is composed in a more studied, ornate and flowing diction, descriptions 
of countries and battles are interwoven with the narrative, fictitious speeches 
are introduced, such as the speaker or actor might have made whether he did 
make them or not— in short, history is a work of art, as much so as an oration, 

* Cf. Plutarch: IcToprjffai rffv r6\iv; Palaephatus: yiypa<pa ravra, ovx oia Ijv 
Aty6peva, dXX' avrbs ereXSdv ital iarop^cas ; iElian : ovk &kot\v \iytiv dAXd \aro- 
plav ; and Verrius Flaccus, as cited by Aulus Gellius, Noct. Att. 5, 18. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 233 

or an epic or tragic poem. Both these views have received the sanction of 
great names (cf. Aulus Gellius, Noct. Att. 5, 18), and the latter is stamped 
with the authority of Cicero (De Orat. 2, 12 ; De Legg. 1, 2).* These distinc- 
tions doubtless hold in reference to the Roman annals in general as compared 
with the standard histories, whether of the Romans or the Greeks. But they 
apply only in a limited measure to the Histories and the Annals of Tacitus. His 
Annals, not less than his Histories, are marked by profound reflection on the 
causes and consequences of events— by deep research and penetration into the 
principles of human action. And though the rigidity of structure, which be- 
longs to the very nature of annals, and the extreme conciseness, which was 
demanded by so vast and comprehensive a subject as that of the Annals of 
Tacitus, are unfavorable to ornament, yet they abound in animated descrip- 
tions, eloquent speeches and pictures of human conduct and character drawn 
with great power and true to the life. The Histories have been compared to 
an epic poem, of which the subject is the fortunes of the Flavian family, and 
all the collateral topics, that are treated, come in by way of prelude or episode. 
There is still more of the dramatic element both in the Histories and the An- 
nals, which may well be considered as a prolonged tragedy or a series of trage- 
dies, whether we contemplate the more than tragic horror of most of the inci- 
dents, or the consummate art and power with which they are combined and 
described. 

The Annals are the author's last work. That they were written subsequent- 
ly to the Histories, we learn from the incidental testimony of the historian 
himself (Ann. 11, 11). That they were not completed till near the close of the 
reign of Trajan, is inferred from Ann. 2, 61, where he speaks of the boundaries 
of the Roman empire as already extended to the Red Sea, which was done by 
Trajan in the 17th year of his reign, a. u. c. 868 ; a. d. 115. The Histories 
also were given to the world in the same reign—in what year is not known, 
though Trajan had already reigned so long and performed such achievements, 
that Tacitus had formed a purpose of writing his history together with that of 
the deified Nerva (His. 1, 1). The Biography of Agricola was issued near the 
commencement of the same reign, as a sort of forerunner to the Histories, of 
which it contains an announcement (cf. A. I, and Notes, ibid.), and which 
must therefore have been already contemplated, if not actually begun at that 
time. The Treatise on Germania was published not far from the same time 
with the Agricola (cf. Special Introductions to those Treatises). The Dialogue 
de Claris Oratoribus, if the work of Tacitus, was doubtless a much earlier pro- 
duction. Accordingly it betrays the author's youth in its playful humor and 
lively emotions, in its exuberance of fancy and the excessive ornaments of its 
style. Moreover the other works, though all composed in the full strength of 
manhood, exhibit a gradual progress in maturity of thought, in depth of feel- 
ing and in gravity of expression, in the same order in which they were written. 
The German Manners and the Life of Agricola abound in poetic fancies, 
lively conceits and artificial periods, which he afterwards learned, or chose, in 
a measure to retrench. Besides the one of these was professedly a pane- 
gyric, and the other in spirit, though not in form and main design, a satjre. 

* See on this general subject Smith's Diet, of Gr. and Rom. Antiq. undei 
Annals ; also the Prolegomena of Walther, Ruperti and others. 

20* 



234 NOTES. 

The former would of course admit of rhetorical flourishes, and the latter of 
playful sallies and sarcastic cuts, which would not become the dignity of his- 
tory. In his Annals, the author has pruned off still more of the redundances 
of his youthful genius, though even there he shows that exuberance was natu- 
ral to him, that he was endowed by nature with the rhetorical and the poetical 
element in little less profusion than the historical and the philosophical. It 
would be instructive and interesting to trace the progressive development of 
this master-mind, and observe the striking changes, and yet the unequivocal 
signs of identity, which mark the history of his intellectual life from the com- 
mencement of the Dialogue on Oratory to the conclusion of the Annals of the 
Roman empire. It would be difficult to find a more remarkable example of 
diversity in unity. 

The Histories are on the whole perhaps the most perfect production of the 
author's genius, as they are also the most finished work of art— the work on 
which he laid out his strength, and on which he relied to transmit his name 
to posterity. They were written when he was nearer fifty than forty, in the 
very prime of life, free alike from the foibles of youth and the feebleness of 
age, possessing at once imagination in undecayed vigor and judgment in 
matured perfection. His resources had been accumulating, as the result of 
long observation and reflection. His feelings were chastened and yet deepen- 
ed by suffering, and his eloquence was matured by study and practice. He 
had spoken at the bar and ruled in the senate. He had served, perhaps com- 
manded in the Roman armies. Whether he writes of civil or military affairs, 
he seems alike at home, alike familiar with the arts of war and those of peace. 
At the same time, he was master of all the lore of books, and all the wisdom 
of the schools. The principles of philosophy were almost the atmosphere he 
breathed. Like Cicero, he combined the high-toned morals of the Stoics with 
the more liberal doctrines of the Academy, though he held to the Stoical doc- 
trine of fate and, sometimes, particularly in his Annals, gives utterance to 
religious opinions bordering on those of the Skeptics and Epicureans (Ann. 
3, 18; 6, 22; 16, 33). The Poets, as well as the Philosophers, were his masters. 
Virgil especially charmed his ear and touched his heart. The image of the 
Mantuan Bard is stamped on every page, particularly of the historian's earlier 
writings.* Nor are there wanting reflections of the style and sense and spirit 
of Horace. He had also caught the living images and winged words of him, 
" who wandered erst from Scio's rocky isle." The constitution and laws of 
his country were familiar to him as household words. The civil and political 
history of Greece and Rome had been his study and his meditation. He was 
a republican by choice, but by necessity, as he thought, an imperialist (His. 
1, 1. 16. et passim). He admired the former state of things at Rome, but he 
submitted to the present. He loved liberty, but he loved order more, and 
hoped to find it only under the throne of the CaBsars. He has canonized many 
a martyr of freedom and damned many a tyrant to eternal infamy. But he 
abhorred ultraism, censured would-be martyrs and bade the admirers of the 
impracticable learn from the example of such men as Agricola, that there 

* Cf. Essay on the style of Tacitus, p. 24. See also Notes passim, particularly 
those on Agricola and Germania, which often point to examples of Virgilian 
diction. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 235 

may be great and good subjects under such sovereigns as Domitian (A. 42). 
With the public history and the private life of the period of which he writes, 
he was of course well acquainted, for it was the period of his own active ex- 
ertions, and most of the events, which he records, either passed under his own 
eye at Rome, or were brought directly to his ears as they transpired in the 
more distant provinces. When with a mind so disciplined and so furnished as 
we have thus faintly described— in the full maturity of his powers and with 
the utmost richness of materials — he sat down to write the history of an em- 
pire which involved the history of the world— fit author on fit theme — he could 
say, as iEneas did in beginning the story of his country's fall and his own 
wanderings : 

Quaeque ipse miserrima vidi, 
Et quorum magna pars fui. 

The parallel holds in more than one particular. The events of Tacitus' his- 
tory, like those of ^Eneas' tale, are chiefly sad, disastrous to his country, dis- 
graceful to her rulers and of melancholy interest to himself; he had seen them 
with his own eyes, mourned over them in his inmost heart,* suffered them in 
his own person and in the person of his dearest friends ; he had acted a some- 
what conspicuous part as a senator and an orator in those troublous times ; 
partly by his own prudence, partly by some miracle, as it were, which we 
cannot understand,! he escaped unharmed and with unsullied reputation; 
and no sooner has he weathered the storm and found a safe and tranquil har- 
bor, than he gives to the world an able and faithful history of the scenes 
through which he and his country had passed. Well might the historian 
felicitate himself on the propitious change in his fortunes and the happiness 
of that age, in which it was once more lawful for men to think what they 
pleased and to speak what they thought (His. 1, 1) ! Nor have his readers 
less reason for self-congratulation, that this happy age was preceded by evil 
times, when the historian experienced bitter trials and when the state passed 
from the extreme of bloody anarchy to the extreme of despotic cruelty ; for 
to these experiences we are doubtless indebted for much of his wisdom and 
eloquence ; and though other and inferior minds may have been crushed be- 
neath the oppressive sway of Domitian, and almost lost the power of memory 
together with the gift of speech (A. 2, 3), this long period of forced silence 
only condensed the swelling thoughts of Tacitus, compressed his glowing 
emotions and added intensity to the burning words, in which he spoke, as soon 
as the pressure was removed. X 

Much has been written on the credibility of Tacitus, as a historian. His 
veracity has been impugned. Provoked by the severity with which he treats 
the Jews and the Christians, some of the early Fathers pronounce him the 
most eloquent of liars. § He has been charged with exaggerating the virtues 
and the victories of the Romans on the one hand, and on the other, their vices 

* Witness the pathetic conclusion of the Biography of Agricola (A. 39-46). 

t Witness the absence of Tacitus for four years near the close of Domitian's 
reign (A. 45), when his tyranny was at its height (A. 44). 

t Cf. Plin. Ep. 4, 20 : Dolori sublimitatem et magnificentiam ingenium, ingenio 
vim et amaritudinem dolor addit. 

$ Cf. Tertullian. Apol. adv. gent. ch. 16: loquacissimum mendacium. 



236 NOTES. 

and defeats. He has been censured by some as a Machiavelli or a Latin 
Xenophon, the author of a Tiberiopaedia, whose design was to teach the art of 
tyranny in its perfection, and by others as the rigid, malignant and misanthrop- 
ic censor of princes and of mankind. Such contradictory accusations may 
well be left to balance and neutralize each other. No candid reader of Tacitus 
can regard him as indiscriminate either in censure or in praise.* His worst 
characters are not without their virtues, and his best show their imperfections. 
He denies, or holds in suspense, crimes which the public voice unanimously 
charged upon the emperors, whom he treats with the most unsparing severity, 
and has not made either Tiberius or Domitian so bad, as some other writers of 
his age. In short, he manifestly intends to hold the balance of truth and jus- 
tice with an even hand, and few have better carried out the intention neither 
to " extenuate aught or set down aught in malice." It is to be regretted that 
Tacitus did not take the pains to inform himself better touching the Jews and 
Christians. But in this he erred only in common with all the great w r riters 
and great men of his country (cf. Notes, 5, 2), w T ho were born and bred to de- 
spise and ridicule the Jews— to hate and persecute the Christians.t Moreover, 
notwithstanding his national prejudices, Tacitus expressly attests the inno- 
cence of the Christians, who suffered under Nero, and commiserates their 
sufferings (Ann. 15, 44), while he narrates not a little that is true and com- 
mendable of the Jews, and ascribes to the whole nation a creed touching the 
divine nature more pure, more true, more sublime than had ever entered the 
thoughts of any but the wisest sages of Greece and Rome (His. 5, 5). Tacitus 
undertakes to write both his Histories and his Annals for the express reason, 
that no impartial history of that period had been written (His. 1, 1 ; Ann. 1, 1), 
but between the parasites and the bitter enemies of those in power, truth 
and posterity had been forgotten. For himself, he professes perfect candor. 
From Galba,Otho, and Vitellius,he had received neither benefits nor injuries. 
The Flavian dynasty was now extinct, and, though they had all conferred 
honors upon him, he could speak of them all, unswayed by favor and unawed 
by fear. And nobly, it must be confessed, nobly does he redeem his pledge. 
He does not spare the besetting sin of the soldier-like and truly imperial Ves- 
pasian (His. 1, 50 ; 2, 5 ; 2, 84, et al.). He does not conceal the youthful vices 
of Titus, "delight of the human race" (His. 2, 2; 5, 11). Still less does he 
withhold his severest animadversions from Domitian (Agr. 39-43), while he 
bears grateful testimony to the honors which he had received from him (Ann. 
2, 11 ; His. 1, 1). He had abundant means of knowing the facts which he 
recorded. Besides the extensive personal knowledge of which we have already 
spoken, he had access to the public archives, to the records of the senate, to 
the Acta Diurna or public journals of the city, to the Imperial Commentaries, 
to the histories of Caesar, Livy, Pliny the Elder, and many other documents or 
writers, whom he consults as authorities, but whose statements he thoroughly 
sifts and seldom if ever adopts on mere trust, t In short, an air of sincerity, 
truthfulness and earnestness, a lofty appreciation of the purity and dignity of 

* Compare on this subject the Life of Tacitus in Agricola and Germania, p. 11. 

t In like manner, Roman wnters have all done injustice to the Carthaginians 
who might well repeat the complaint of the lions, that the men wrote the history. 

t See a collection of such authorities and examples of the caution with which 
he weighs them in Ruperti's Prolegomena, also in Boetticher and others. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 237 

history and a sacred scrupulousness to say nothing that shall in the least defile 
or degrade it, pervades all his historical writings. While therefore we admire 
them as works of art and study them as lessons of moral and political wisdom, 
we may also confide in them (with the necessary allowance for human in- 
firmity) as fountains of historical truth, none the less true, but all the more 
convincing and persuasive, for the skill with which he arranges his facts, the 
earnestness with which he inculcates his sentiments and the eloquence with 
which they are adorned. 

A glance at the principal events and leading characteristics of the period, 
which Tacitus has selected for his Histories, may afford an opportunity to 
observe somewhat more particularly the writer's manner of treating his sub- 
ject, and may at the same time prepare the reader to follow him through the 
details with more intelligent interest. The first three emperors reigned in all 
only about a year and a half, and all came to a violent death. Galba filled 
the throne only seven months, Otho less than four, and Vitellius about eight, 
after which little and brief authority, they fell victims successively to the 
same policy by which they had in succession risen to power— they took the 
sword, and they perished by the sword. Till the dethronement of Nero, 
the emperors had been nominally appointed by the senate, though the power 
of the senate really extended no farther than to confirm the nomination of their 
successors by those who held the supreme authority. Now this nominal power 
was wrested from the senate and usurped by the troops. And since one army 
had as good a right as another to the honor and advantage of placing their 
commander on the throne, there was a general rush for the city and the spoils 
from every quarter of the empire. Galba was the first to disclose the secret 
that an emperor could be nominated in a province as well as in the city, and 
invested with the imperial purple by the military instead of the civil power 
(His. 1,4); and he was the first victim to this disastrous change in the policy 
of the state. He was named emperor by the legions under his own command 
in Spain , and when their courage began to falter in so novel and hazardous an 
enterprise, he was raised to the throne by the Praetorian Guards in the capital, 
who were inflamed with resentment at the atrocious designs of Nero and fur- 
ther stimulated by the hope of an immense reward which had been promised 
them in the name, though without the authority, of Galba. But when they 
saw that the donative was withheld, which could not be bestowed without a 
renewal of all the extortion and proscription of Nero himself— nay more, when 
they discovered that Galba would not indulge them in all the licentiousness 
and crime in which they had revelled under Nero, the same Praetorian Guards 
hurled him headlong from the throne, severed his head from his body, and left 
him weltering in his gore. Galba had some apology for his ambition. His 
only alternative was the scaffold or the throne. Happy for the reputation of 
the old soldier— happy, we might almost say, for the old soldier himself, if he 
had chosen the former. " He seemed too great for a private man while he 
was one," says Tacitus, in one of those pregnant sentences of his which so 
often body forth a whole character, ' as the cope of heaven is imaged in a 
dewdrop,' " and the suffrages of all mankind would have pronounced him 
worthy of empire, had he never made the experiment— omnium consensu 
capax imperii, nisi imperasseV (His. 1, 49). 

Otho had no such excuse. He had been the first to espouse the cause of 



238 NOTES. 

Galba, and he expected to hold the first place in his counsels. But he was 
disappointed, and he deserved to be. The old man nominated the virtuous 
Piso for his successor. And Otho avenged himself in the blood both of the 
aged emperor and his adopted son. It was Otho's highest recommendation 
to the degenerate Romans, that lie resembled the corrupt and licentious Nero. 
The rabble, who now ruled at Rome, called him Nero Otho, and were ready 
at all hazards to follow his fortunes and to defend his throne. Galba had 
fallen without a blow struck in his behalf. The cause of Otho was maintained 
with much spirit by followers like himself. In three considerable, though in- 
decisive, battles, his troops were victorious over those of Vitellius. In a fourth, 
they were defeated with great slaughter. Still they never wavered in their 
attachment or faltered in hope. They urged and ent»ated him to summon 
all his forces and renew the fight. But he had resolved not to survive a defeat. 
He plunged a dagger to his own heart, and terminated the life of a debauchee 
by the death, as it seemed to the Romans, of a philosopher— as it appears to 
us, of a fool. The fortitude and composure, not without real or affected gen- 
erosity, which he displayed in his last hours, endeared him still more to his 
soldiers, and many of them made a voluntary sacrifice of their lives at his fu- 
neral pile (His. 2, 4')). 

Vitellius succeeded without further opposition to the vacant throne. But 
like his predecessors, he had scarcely marched his armies into Rome, before 
he was obliged to march them out again to meet a formidable competitor. 
Too lazy and stupid from the first to command his own forces, he had now be- 
come yet more drunken and debauched. Leaving all his military operations 
to those generals whose energies alone had raised him to the throne, he gave 
himself up to gluttony and intoxication. But one of them, Fabius Valens, had 
become enervated and diseased by revelling. The other, Alienus Caecina, 
marches out at the head of the troops, but proves treacherous and makes an 
unsuccessful attempt to bring his soldiers over to the allegiance of Vespasian. 
On the other side, the main force had not yet arrived at the field of action from 
Syria. Vespasian himself and Mucianus, his commander-in-chief, were still 
in the East. But the ardor and energy, the conduct and prowess of Antonius 
Primus, who happened to be located near the northern border of Italy, amply 
compensated for deficiency of numbers, as the loyalty and zeal of Vitellius' 
army went far to counterbalance the treachery of one, and the absence of the 
other, of their generals. And the conflict which ensued, was protracted, fu- 
rious and sanguinary almost beyond a parallel even in the bloody annals of 
civil commotion. Fired not only by party passion, but by a thirst for booty 
and blood, the followers of Antonius fought like tigers, nay like demons, 
through two days and the intervening night, defeated three successive armies 
in three successive battles with little intermission, carried two distinct and 
strongly fortified walls of defence about Cremona, plundered the treasures of 
that city, took captive its inhabitants and burned its edifices, public and pri- 
vate, sacred and profane, to the ground. The cause of Vitellius was now 
ruined. He himself had long given up in despair. In the language of Tacitus, 
he would have forgotten that he had ever been emperor, had not his followers 
persisted in calling him such. They adhered to him with firmness and fought 
for him with desperation, when nothing remained to him but Rome and the 
dregs of its population. And in this last hopeless struggle the Capitol was 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 239 

burned and scenes of horror enacted, little less tragical than the sacking and 
conflagration of Cremona. Vitellius stalked about his palace, like a ghost, af- 
frighted by its emptiness and desolation, till weary of wandering he took refuge 
under the bed in the porter's lodge. But he was soon discovered, dragged 
forth from his pudenda latebra, loaded with insults and put to death by re- 
peated wounds. In narrating these scenes of strife and horror, the historian 
catches the inspiration of his subject, and, like the great epic poet of the Greeks, 
gathering strength and fervor as he proceeds, rises into unwonted and almost 
unrivalled eloquence. Witness the series of battles and assaults, which end 
in the destruction of Cremona by the troops of Antonius. No book of fiction 
was ever more full of marvellous incidents ; and no novelist or poet ever por- 
trayed them in livelier or stronger colors. The whole passage (His. 3, 15-34) 
can hardly be matched for power in historical description, while for laying 
bare the workings of the human heart in excited and struggling masses of men, 
it stands, we believe, without a parallel in history.* See first, how he exposes 
to the reader's view the secret motives and sordid passions of Antonius' men, 
when, after having defeated two distinct bodies of the enemy's troops, they 
came in sight of Cremona (ch. 19). Again, look at the lively and moving 
picture of the calamities and crimes incident to civil war, which is grouped 
around the lifeless body of a father slain unintentionally by the hand of his 
own son in the 25th chapter. It is a truly Homeric episode, full of tenderness 
and pathos, relieving for the moment and yet enhancing in the end the im- 
pression made by protracted scenes of indiscriminate slaughter on the battle- 
field. Scarcely less Homeric is the description in the 28th chapter of a renew- 
ed and desperate assault upon the city, ending in those frightfully energetic 
words : integri cum sauciis, semineces cum exspirantibus volvuntur, varia 
pereuntium form%, et omni imagine mortium. Then to crown the whole, 
read the description of the sacking and conflagration of Cremona (ch. 33), 
where " in so vast a multitude, as different in their language as their manners, 
composed of Roman citizens, allies and foreign auxiliaries, all the fell passions 
of mankind were crowded together— where nothing was unlawful, nothing 
sacred, since each soldier had his peculiar notions of right and wrong, and 
what one scrupled another dared to execute." Yet even this is exceeded by 
the mingled scorn and pity, bitter sarcasm and tragic pathos, with which our 
author sets forth the shameful and shocking scenes of burning and pillage, of 
rioting and revelling, which attended the close of Vitellius' disgraceful reign, 
in the midst of the imperial city, when " whatever the libidinous passions can 
inspire in the hour of peace was mixed with all the slaughter and horrors of 
war— the whole city seemed to be inflamed with frantic rage, and at the same 
time intoxicated with bacchanalian pleasures— a dreadful carnage was a 
spectacle added to the public games— the populace enjoyed the havoc ; they 
exulted in the midst of devastation, and without any regard for either of the 
contending parties, triumphed over the miseries of their country." Those, 
who cannot read the whole of the Histories, should by all means read the third 
Book. It is almost the only extant portion of the work, in which his descrip- 
tive powers have full scope. It well illustrates also the author's characteristic 
skill in the delineation of character. Take, for instance, Vitellius, and, while 



* Vid. Life of Tacitus, p. 10. 



240 NOTES. 

from stage to stage of his history you are made acquainted with his conduct, 
notice the lights and shades by which his character is brought out more and 
more distinctly, till at length lie stands before you, not so much a perfect pic- 
ture, as a living man, with not only his entire life but his whole heart naked 
and open to your view. And do not fail to observe, how much of character is 
developed often by a word or phrase. For example, in the last quotation : " a 
dreadful carnage was a spectacle added to the public games— the populace 
enjoyed the havoc," what an emphasis of meaning there is in the words in 
italics, and how they probe to the bottom the depths of corruption in the 
hearts of the city populace ! So when Vitellius was met and escorted into the 
city by an infamous band of pimps, of charioteers, of players and buffoons, 
M all well known and dear to him by their utility in vicious pleasures," Tacitus 
adds : " such were the disgraceful connections of the emperor, and he enjoyed 
them without a blush."* How much of Vitellius is exhibited in this single 
stroke! This is characteristic of Tacitus. No writer ever conveyed so much 
knowledge of things, and especially so much insight into men, in so few words. 
In like manner, the finishing stroke in the portraiture of Galba (already men- 
tioned, p. 237) brings out as it were the whole nature of the man with all its 
greatness and all its infirmities. So of Galba's adopted son, for whom he in- 
spires us with a just reverence and love in half a dozen words: quasi imperare 
posset, quam vetlet. In like manner, he shows us tho exact condition of the 
Koman state in half a sentence, when he makes Galba say to Piso : M you are 
called to rule over men who cannot endure either entire slavery or entire free- 
dom — qui nee totam servitutcin i>ati jtossunt, nee totam libertatem." 

With the accession of Vespasian to the throne, closes what is now extant 
of the Histories of Tacitus. We have not even the record of his arrival at 
Rome. While he was proceeding deliberately through Hgypt towards the 
imperial city, and busying himself partly in providing for the necessities of 
the city, partly in discovering his own future fortunes by the aid of the 
Egyptian priests (His. 4, til-dO), Mucianus exercised all the prerogatives of 
sovereignty in his stead ; Domitian aspiring to usurp power which did not 
belong to him, and failing in the attempt, gave himself up to dissipation; 
and Titus, succeeding to his father's command in Judaea, was advancing to 
the siege of Jerusalem (5, 1-13). Such is the posture of affairs, when the His- 
tories are brought suddenly to a close. The Jewish W T ar is left incomplete. 
The fragment which remains is invested with peculiar interest to the Chris- 
tian, because it is so intimately connected at so many points with his holy 
religion. Tacitus entertained many and violent prejudices against the Jews. 
It is not strange that he did. They were too exclusive in their politics and 
too intolerant in their religion, to be appreciated by any foreigners, most of 
all by the liberal and polytheistic or free-thinking Romans. Accordingly 
they received little mercy from Roman officers, and little sympathy from 
Roman scholars. Despised as superstitious by the learned, and hated as sedi- 
tious by the great at Rome, it is not surprising that Tacitus should de- 
nounce them as a sordid, gloomy, unsocial and misanthropic race. It is in 
fact but the very treatment they have practically met with from the rest 
of the world ever since. Not only prejudice against their singularities, but 

* It will be seen that this example is near the close of the 2d Book (ch. 87). 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 241 

ignorance of their real character and history, as a distinct and isolated 
people, led him into many errors. Yet some rays of truth may be seen 
gleaming through nearly all his mistakes, and confirmation of the sacred 
records may be gathered from all his apparent contradictions. The true 
account of their origin is given in connection with several other traditionary 
tales (5, 2). The Exodus from Egypt, the journey through the wilderness, 
some of the miracles even of Moses are recorded (chap. 3), not as they were, 
but as they would come to the ears and appear to the eye of a foreigner 
and a Roman. The rite of circumcision, the abstinence from swine's flesh, 
the use of unleavened bread, the observance of the seventh day as the sab- 
bath, and the seventh year as a year of rest— all these peculiar features of 
the Jewish religion are recognised, and referred to their supposed and some- 
times their real cause (chap. 4, 5). Our author declares their belief in the 
immortality of the soul and a future state of rewards and punishments, and 
gives a sublime description of the one God of the Jews, and the purely 
spiritual worship which they paid to him (chap. 5), so unlike at once to the 
polytheism and the idolatry of all the rest of the world, and so unaccount- 
able, except on the supposition of special divine teaching. His geography 
and topography of the country lead him to notice (chap. 7) the plains of 
Sodom, the tradition touching the destruction of the once wealthy and popu- 
lous cities of the plain by fire from heaven, and the utter emptiness of the 
fruits of the earth in that region, so strikingly alluded to in sacred writ, 
and hence proverbial to this day, as the apples of Sodom and the clusters of 
Gomorrah. 

But the Christian will regard with the greatest interest the confirmation 
which Tacitus unwittingly furnishes to the fulfilment of prophecy, in the ex- 
pected coming of the Messiah and in the circumstances attending the destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem. He informs us that the Jews cherished a lively expecta- 
tion, which was derived from prophecies contained in their sacred books, and 
which all their calamities could not extinguish, that at this very juncture the 
power of the East would prevail over the nations, and a race of men would go 
forth from Judaea to extend their dominion over the rest of the world (5, 13). 
Moreover he gives a graphic picture of those signs and wonders in the heavens 
above and in the earth beneath, which our Lord predicted should attend the 
destruction of Jerusalem and its holy temple (3Iatt. 24, Luke 21) — swords 
gleaming in the air, embattled armies performing their evolutions in mid- 
heaven, strange sights and supernatural sounds in the temple, and the like 
portentous omens of the approaching ruin of the city. It is not easy to say, 
whether Christianity is more illustrated and confirmed by this historical notice 
of the general expectation of a mighty king and conqueror from the East, 
which had been nourished by ancient prophecies of the Messiah, or by the 
accompanying record of the fulfilment of predictions uttered by the Messiah 
himself touching the fate of his native land and its devoted metropolis. It 
cannot but be regarded as truly remarkable, that two celebrated historians, 
the one a Jew and the other a pagan, both of whom rejected Christianity and 
hated the Christians, should have recorded so many facts which go directly to 
authenticate and illustrate the Christian religion. 

With the preparations for the siege of Jerusalem the thread of our Histories 
is broken off. The description of the assault and capture is lost. Only the 

21 



242 



I\ OTES. 



preface, as it were, is preserved— the principal part of the work, the history of 
the Flavian Family, has perished. We cannot but mourn over the irreparable 
loss.* We feel, that we cannot afford to lose any thing from so instructive 
and attractive a pen. Especially after wading through the chaotic and bloody 
scenes in the reigns of Galba, Otho and Vitellius, we are unwilling to be de- 
nied the pleasure of reaching solid ground once more, and looking on the 
peace, order and comparative happiness that spring up under the auspices of 
Vespasian and Titus, as they are painted by the same master hand. The 
siege of Jerusalem, with its amazing feats of valor and its more amazing 
scenes of calamity and suffering— what a subject for the pen of Tacitus ! We 
would fain follow the beautiful and brilliant Titus through the glories of his 
military triumphs to the brighter glories of his virtuous and happy, but too 
short reign. And we burn to see the fratricide and tyrant Domitian writhing 
under the just vengeance of the prince at once of historians and of satirists. 

Such a period— with such characteristics as our author briefly and vividly 
sketches in his introductory chapters (1, 58. 3) — is not the most favorable to the 
excitement of historical interest. The leading characters are for the most 
part both weak and wicked, at once odious and contemptible. And it is with 
extreme difficulty, that a history is made to sustain an interest, which does 
not attach to its leading characters. Still, as Tacitus intimates in the begin- 
ning of his third chapter, such a period is the very theatre for the display of 
the most heroic virtues in those private individuals who have the moral cour- 
age to breast the current of the times. And we shall find our historian's pages 
adorned with biographical episodes and tributes of honor to many such noble 
souls. 

The great Halicarnassian critic would condemn Tacitus, as he did Thu- 
cydides (Dion. Ilalicarn. Kpis. ad Cn. Pomp.), for selecting a period so fruit- 
ful in disasters and disgrace to his country. But the historian is not re- 
sponsible for the events which he records, any more than the messenger is for 
the news he bears. He may be a truer patriot at heart and may render more 
important services to his country, who sets up beacons at the points of her 
danger, than he who rears monuments on the fields of her triumph. The 
patriotism of Herodotus and Livy exults in the glory of their country ; that of 
Thucydides and Tacitus mourns over her shame. The muse of the former is 
full of buoyancy and hope — she advances in the animated though stately air 
of a triumphal march, and ever and anon is heard singing pseans. The muse 
of the latter is grave, thoughtful and melancholy— she sits absorbed in sorrow- 
ful meditations and gloomy forebodings— or she moves at a sad and solemn 
pace and utters " more hearselike harmonies than carols"— or now again, like 
another Cassandra, she starts up, as in a fit of prophetic phrensy, and pours 
forth wild and piercing cries of alarm. These warnings came too late for the 
salvation of their countrymen : but the histories of the commotions and civil 
wars, which these great masters of their art have composed, are more in- 
structive to posterity, than all the foreign conquests and victories, whether of 
Greece or Rome, which Herodotus and Livy have recorded. Inferior writers 

* The Medicean MS., which alone contains the first six books of the Annals, 
was found in a monastery of Westphalia, as late as the sixteenth century. Would 
that we might still cherish the hope of recovering more or less of the lost decade 
of the Histories. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 243 

may thrill their readers with a spirited detail of Roman triumphs ; but it re- 
quired the genius of Tacitus to fathom the depths of Roman degeneracy and 
corruption, and bring forth instruction and even delight from the shortlived 
and ill-starred reigns of Galba, Otho and Vitellius. Tacitus himself felt deeply 
the degradation of his country, and the consequent inferiority of his subject to 
the more brilliant and imposing events of Rome's earlier history. " No man 
will think of comparing these Annals," he says (Ann. 4, 32), and the same 
remarks are applicable for the most part to the subject-matter of the Histories 
— " No man will think of comparing these Annals with the historians of the old 
republic. Those writers had for their subject wars of the greatest magnitude, 
cities taken by storm, kings overthrown and led into captivity; and when 
from those scenes of splendor, they turned their attention to domestic occur- 
rences, they still had an ample field before them ; they had dissensions be- 
tween the consuls and the tribunes ; they had agrarian laws, the price of corn, 
and the plebeian and patrician orders inflamed with mutual animosity. 
Those were objects that filled the imagination of the reader and gave free 
scope to the genius of the writer. The work in which I am engaged, lies in a 
narrow compass ; the labor is great, and glory there is none. A long and 
settled calm, scarce lifted to a tempest ; wars no sooner begun than ended ; a 
gloomy scene at home, and a prince without ambition or even a wish to en- 
large the boundaries of the empire : these are the scanty materials that lie 
before me. And yet materials like these are not to be undervalued ; though 
slight in appearance they still merit attention, since they are often the secret 
spring of the most important events." 

Such is the modest estimate which Tacitus put upon his subject and his 
treatment of it. Posterity has judged more favorably of both. Lord Mao- 
boddo,* the severest of all the critics on his style, has well said : " His subject, 
I think, is grand and noble. It is the history of the fall of a great people, 
greater than any that ever existed in arms and government, and in the extent 
and duration of their empire. Other nations may have been more glorious in 
their rise or in their prosperity, but none was ever so great in its fall ; and 
the period of Tacitus's history affords more extraordinary examples of virtues 
and vices, sometimes mixed in the same man, than are to be found anywhere 
else in the Instory of mankind. For the Romans are great in their vices as 
well as their virtues, and in both almost exceed humanity. In treating this 
subject, Tacitus never falls below the dignity of it, nor is it, I think, without 
reason, that he speaks himself of the gravity of his work. He shows him- 
self everywhere a lover of virtue and of virtuous men, and expresses in the 
strongest terms his detestation of cruelty and every kind of vice. He speaks 
with admiration of philosophy and its teachers, knowing that it was philoso- 
phy that had produced those extraordinary characters which he celebrates, 
such as that of Thrasea Paetus and Helvidius Priscus." 

" In reading his Annals and Histories,! where we see the baffled and in- 
effectual efforts by which individuals worthy of a better age strive to bear up 
against the cruelty of tyrants and the general corruption of morals, and at 

* Vid. citation in the Life of Tacitus, p. 9. 

t This paragraph is translated from Boetticher's Prolegomena to his Lexicon 
Taciteum. 



244 NOTES. 

the same time perceive that there may be great and good men even under 
bad princes— where we behold fortune, fate and the gods themselves, in a 
manner wonderful and never sufficiently understood by mortals, direct the 
changeful vicissitudes of human life, contemplating in the Annals the singu- 
lar fatality that followed the Julian family to its utter extinction, in the His- 
tories the convulsive energies that were put forth to re-establish a vacant and 
tottering sovereignty, do we not seem to ourselves to be reading some tragedy 
of iEschylus, Sophocles or Euripides — does not the sorrowful image of Niobe 
stand before our eyes— are we not stricken through with a kind of horror, as 
if at the sight of Laocoon struggling in vain to disengage himself from the 
crushing folds of the serpent? Truly worthy of Tacitus, worthy also of the 
majesty of the Roman empire, is the design to explain with becoming wis- 
dom and diligence by what fate or fortune or succession of events ' jampridem. 
praevalentis populi vires se ipsae confecerinV* — what vices of the people or 
their rulers provoked the justice and the vengeance of the immortal gods, and 
precipitated the fall of so vast an empire ! So, like a second Scipio, we behold 
Tacitus sitting not now on the ruins of Carthage, but on the soil of Rome her- 
self, already tottering to her (all, and predicting with gushing tears the de- 
struction of his country, and that not in words of elaborate and far-fetched 
study, but in such obvious and to him spontaneous forms of pathetic eloquence, 
as to present to the very eye the perfect image of that country convulsed and 
trembling on the verge of dissolution." 

Livy is the only Latin historian who can at all contest the palm with Taci- 
tus. We need not attempt accurately to adjust the balance between them. 
It were no discredit to either of them to acknowledge the other to be his 
superior. Indeed their merits are so unlike that they can hardly be brought 
into direct comparison. There is no ratio between unlike quantities in mathe- 
matics ; neither can the terms greater and less he predicated in the gross of 
distinguished but diverse authors. In style, the pre-eminence must be con- 
ceded to Livy. His amazing versatility, his infinite variety always pleases 
and never tires. Unpretending narrative and elaborate description, concise 
annals and discursive eloquence, succeed and relieve each other with an in- 
exhaustible fertility— as the critics term it, with a lactea ubertas, both in 
thought and language, " always fresh, always sweet, always pure." Tacitus, 
it must be confessed, is wanting in variety and simplicity.! He does indeed 
vary his construction and forms of expression infinitely, as Boetticher and 
Doederlein* have well illustrated. But he wants that higher variety and 
beauty of historical composition, which results from telling a "fine story 
finely" and "a plain story plainly." He is always treading the stage in his 
high-heeled tragic buskins, and declaiming to a crowded amphitheatre at the 
top of his voice. Doubtless his best passages far surpass any thing that can be 
found in Livy, for coloring and effect. But Livy on the whole is a more 
pleasing book to the reader, and a safer model for the young writer. Livy is 
the author to be read continuously ; Tacitus, to be taken up at intervals. The 
one furnishes a wholesome variety of food for the mind ; the other serves his 
reader too exclusively with strong meats and stimulating condiments. 



* Vid. Preface of Livy. t Vid. Life of Tacitus, p. 9. 

t Vid. Essay on the Style of Tacitus. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 245 

For the sentiments and moral lessons which they convey, the meed of praise 
must be divided between thern. Both are fruitful in instruction. The moral 
taste of both is pure and elevated. And yet they are very unlike : Livy's 
sentiments appear to be drawn from books ; Tacitus' are obviously the fruit 
of his own observation and meditation. Tacitus is original and just in his 
reflections ; Livy is varied and beautiful. Livy is the more genial spirit ; 
Tacitus, the more sagacious and profound. 

In the delineation of character, Tacitus is greatly the superior. The char- 
acters of Livy want individuality. We are not made acquainted with their 
distinctive features. Still less do we see the very bottom of their hearts. 
In Tacitus every character stands out distinctly from the surrounding mass, 
wears his own face, and acts out his own peculiar motives and impulses. 
His heroes are as diverse as we know heroes are in nature ; and in the whole 
series of tyrants and monsters, whose history he writes, the reader would 
no more confound their characters, than a contemporary and familiar ac- 
quaintance would have mistaken their persons. Tacitus draws characters as 
Shakspeare does in his dramas ; Livy paints them too much like the sophist in 
his declamations. Livy places before us the statues of heroes and gods ; 
Tacitus conducts us through the crowd of living men. 

Livy is little more than an orator and scholar ; Tacitus is also a statesman 
and philosopher. Livy is the greater and better writer; Tacitus the greater and 
better man. We admire the former : the latter we reverence. Either might 
inspire us with love ; but Tacitus only can impress us with awe and fear. 
Tacitus selects his incidents with chief regard to their truth and intrinsic 
value ; Livy, with a constant, not to say single, eye to their literary beauty 
and picturesque etfect. Livy is wholly a Roman. To him, the Roman empire 
is the world. If he loved liberty, it was only Roman liberty. If he extolled 
the military skill and prowess of Hannibal, it was only that he might exalt 
Rome herself, with her armies and commanders, to so much the higher 
glory, as their conquerors. Tacitus is a man and reverences the manly vir- 
tues, wherever he finds them. The best speech he ever wrote is put into 
the mouth of a free and noble Briton. He half prefers the simple virtues of 
the barbarous but free and independent Germans, to the splendid vices of 
the cultivated but degenerate Romans. To him Arminius is none the less 
a hero for being a German; and he complains (Ann. 2, 88), that the Greeks 
embellished nothing but their own story, while the Romans, absorbed in the 
veneration of antiquity, did injustice alike to all contemporary achievements. 
In a word, Livy was born to compose the history of the rise and glory 
of the Roman empire ; Tacitus of its decline and fall. It was the vocation 
of Livy to compose a great prose epic in honor of his country. It was the 
mission of Tacitus to write a magnificent historical tragedy for the instruc- 
tion and warning of mankind. 

24* 



BOOK I. 

Page 

31 Chap. I. — It has been conjectured, that this Book, as it now stands 
is acephalous, the words Populi Romani res enarratus, or the like, 
having been lost from the beginning. But the subject of the work is 
sufficiently brought out in what follows, and was doubtless prefixed 
also in a title. Initium is pred. after erunt. 

Line 1. Ser. Galba . . . consules = annus, in quo fuero consules, 
i. e., the 1st of January, a. u. c. 822, a. d. 69. The reign of Galba had 
commenced in June of the previous year. As Galba was put to death 
on the 15th of January (cf. chap. 27, seq.)> only half a month of his 
reign is directly embraced within tho compass of the Histories of our 
author, who having for his main object to write the history of tho 
Flavian dynasty, commences with the beginning of the civil year, 
which was nearly coincident with those commotions in the armies 
of Germany, which led to the assumption of imperial power by Ves- 
pasian. The chronology may be seen at a glance in the table on 
p. 26. — Consules means colleagues (those who go together, con and 
sul, root of salio) or joint presidents of the Roman republic. Cf. 
Smith's Diet, of Gr. and Rom. Ant., sub voc, and Niebuhr's History, 
as there cited. 

2. Post conditam urbem. Observe the concrete form of expres- 
sion. The Latin language is very deficient in such abstract words as 
foundation, constitution, &c. The people were marked for action, 
and their language deals in facts. — Octingentos. Al. septingentos. 
But the number of years here mentioned, must cover the whole period 
from the founding of the city to the second consulship of Galba 
(otherwise the clause, though beginning with nam, assigns no reason 
for commencing the history with that date), and that was 820 years 
(in round numbers, exactly 822). Cf. 4, 58: per octingentos viginti 
annos. Septingentos is a conjectural reading. 

3, Dum .... memorabantur. So long as the history of the 
Roman people (i. e. the republic) was being written. For after the 
battle of Actium, it was ies Caesarum, not res populi Romani, that 
were recorded. So in Ann. 1,1, Pop. Rom. pros per a vel adversa is 
opposed to temporibus Augusti. Cf. also G. 37, Pop. Rom. vs. Caesari. 

4t. Eloquentia ac libertate. These words limit retulerunt. — 
Libertate : postquam. Al. libertate. Postquam. But postquam .... 
bellatum, etc., is antithetic to dum res, etc. (the antithetic particle 
9ed being omitted. Cf. Essay on the Style of T., p. 13) ; and there- 



book i. 247 

Page 

fore should not stand at the beginning of a new sentence. The whole q-i 
passage thus read and pointed may be summed up as follows: — 
1. He states the date with which he intends to begin his history, viz. 
the second consulship of Galba = a. u. c. 822. 2. He gives the 
reason why he does not commence at an earlier date, viz. that many 
have written the history of the whole period prior to that date. 
3. But he subdivides that whole period into two parts, viz. the Repub- 
lic and the Empire, the former of which has been treated with as 
much freedom as eloquence, but not so the latter. Tacitus may have 
already had in mind the plan, which he afterwards executed (in his 
Annals), of writing also the history of the latter period, because, 
though written by many, it had been treated without ability or 
impartiality. Cf. Ann. 1, 1, a passage which sheds much light on this. 

5. Actium. Where Augustus defeated Antony and established 
himself in the sole possession of the supreme power. — Potentiam. AI. 
potestatem. Potestas est ifrvoia, potentia Sivafus. So Wr.,* who argues, 
that not omnis potestas, all lawful authority, but omnis potentia, all 
power and might was concentred in one man, that he might preserve 
peace. For this distinction, cf. His. 1, 13 ; Ann. 3, 69 ; Cic. pro 
domoj 30. See also Or. in loc. 

6. Conferri = brought together, united in one man. 

7. Simul Veritas, etc. See a similar passage in Dion, 53, 19. 

8. XJt alienae. Since it was the property of another, i. e. the 
emperor, not the people. So Wr., Or. and Dod. As if it were a for- 
eign state ; for they had no more to do with it, and therefore cared 
and knew no more about it, than if it were a foreign republic. So 
Ernesti. A truly republican sentiment, according to either interpre- 
tation. The former is preferable. — Rursus. Cf. note A. 28. 

9. Infensos. Sc. principibus. 

10. Ambitionenu Lit., going about to solicit favor. Hence 
flattery to the great, explained below by adulationi. 

11. Adverserise So the MSS., Wr. and Dod. Al. averseris, 
Rup., Or. But without good authority or reason. For the accusative 
after adversor, ef. Gr. 224, R. 4 ; Z. 386. Also Freund's Lexicon, 
sub voce. For the subjunctive here, cf. Gr. 260, II. ; Z. 523. You 
may easily withstand or resist. Wr. refers it to the writer: You 
(any writer) may easily withstand the temptation to flatter. This is 
more pertinent to the connection. But scriptoris suggests rather the 
idea, that the reader can easily withstand, etc. So Rup. and most 
others. — Pronis auribus, literally, ears inclining or bending forward 
= willing ears. 



* The Authorities most frequently cited in these Notes, are cited by then- 
initial letters or syllables, thus: Wr. = Walther ; Rup. = Ruperti ; Or. = 
Orelli ; D6d. = Doderlein, &c. Gr. stands for Andrews and Stoddard's 
Grammar ; Z. for Zumpt's do. 



248 NOTES. 

PRffe 

O] 12. Mali^nitati = obtrectatio et liror above. 

15. A Domitiano. Ann. 11,11. Cf. Life of Tacitus, pp. 5-6. 

16. Abnuerim. For the mode and tense, cf. Gr. 260, R. 4; 
Z. 527. — Nee .... odio = neque amore quisquam neque odio. En- 
allage. Cf. Germania and Agricola passim. 

IT. Q,uod si. And if. From the tendency to connect sen- 
tences by relatives arose the use of quod before certain conjunctions, 
particularly si, merely as a copulative. Cf. Z. 807 ; also Freund's 
Lexicon, sub voce. — Principatum, properly civil government, and 
hence appropriate to the peaceful reign of Nerva. — Imperium, properly 
military command, and hence equally appropriate to the more warlike 
Trajan. Cf. Dod. in loc. 

18. Divi Nervae. This implies that Nerva was already dead, 
before this paragraph was written and beforo the history was pub- 
lished. How much labor may have been bestowed on the work previous 
to the composition of the introduction, wo cannot tell. Cf. note, A. 3, 
memoriatn, etc.; also Preliminary Remarks, p. 233. 

1!>. Uoeriorem. The reign of Trajan was fruitful in great 
events, in civil and military life, as well as in literature. Cf. Life of 
T.j pp. 8-7. — Securiorem. Wr. renders, more pleasing, lit. more free 
from care (se-cura), anxiety, pain. But it may be rendered here, as 
usual, more safe, more secure, not indeed from personal danger, for 
the historian had nothing to fear for his person in treating either sub- 
ject, but from the danger of giving offence to bad men or their de- 
scendants, of whom there were not so many to bo spoken of in the 
Life of Trajan, as in that for instance of Domitian. Or. and Dod. refer 
to the pcriculosae plenum opus aleae of Horace (Od. 2, 1, G), as a 
parallel passage. — Rara felicitate is not abl. abs. but abl. of cause or 
accompanying circumstance = enjoying as I do that felicity of the 
times which is so seldom enjoyed, when, etc. Observe that ubi, 
properly an adverb of place, is here and often used as an adverb of time. 

Ch. II. — This chapter and the next present an outline of the lead- 
ing events and prominent features of the history. The language is 
concise as a table of contents, yet it abounds in the disjecta membra 
poetae. 

22. Opus. Lit. a work. But the epithets opirnum, etc., apply 
only to the period to which the work relates. Render : / propose to 
write the history of a period, etc. 

23. Ipsa pace instead of in ipsa pace, for the sake of conciseness. 
Cf. Essay on Style of Tacitus, p, 12. — Saevum. Or. and Dod. read 
saevom, after the Medicean MS. The MSS. of Tacitus exhibit not a 
few examples of the old orthography of the Latin language. But 
they do not preserve consistency. Boetticher thinks that Tacitus 
resorted to different modes of writing words for the sake of variety, 
Cf. Prolegomena to his Lexicon Taciteum. 



book i. , 249 

Page 

24. Principes. Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Domitian, all of whom 01 
came to a violent death. — Trina, poetice for tria. Cf. Gr. 120, 4. 
The three civil wars here referred to are those between Otho and 
Vitellius, between Vitellius and Vespasian, and of L. Antonius against 
Domitian, on which last vid. Sueton. Dom. 6, Dio Cass. 67, 11. Cf. 
Or. and Dod. in loc. Ruperti would reckon among them that of Otho 
and Galba, which however hardly amounted to a war. Cf. note, 
chap. 50 : saevae pads. 

25. Permixta, sc. externa cum civilibus, both being carried on 
at the same time, as, for instance, the war with the Jews by Titus, 
and with the Gauls and Germans under Civilis by Cerialis, in con- 
nection with the civil war between Vitellius and Vespasian. 

2T. Missa. Dismissed, neglected = omissa, the simple for the 
compound. Cf. Essay, p. 10. 

28. Mutuis, i. e. alternis, acceptis et illatis. Rup. — Dacus. Cf. note, 
G. 1 ; also ibid. Sarmatae. Of the wars with the Sarmatians, cf. 1, 79 ; 
3, 5. 24 ; 4, 54 ; with the Dacians, cf. His. 3, 46 ; 4, 54 ; A. 41. Of 
the wars with the Suevi we have no other account. The Suevi here 
meant, says Lipsius, are not the tribe more commonly so called, that 
dwelt in Germany (Germ. 38, seqq.), but another tribe located beyond 
the Danube by the Sarmatae, and hence often associated with them, 
e. g. Ann. 12, 29 ; Sueton. Dom. 6 ; Dion Cass. 67, 5. Cf. Or. in loc. 

29. Falsi .... ludibrio. The farce, or game, of the pretended 
Nero. T. informs us (His. 2, 8), that inasmuch as there were various 
reports touching the end of Nero, many pretended and believed that 
he was still alive. Hence he was personated by several impostors, as 
late even as the reigns of Titus and Domitian. Cf. Suet. Nero, 57. 

30. Jam vero. Cf. note, G. 14. — Cladibus. Calamities, not 
slaughters, as just above. 

3 1 • Haustae .... urlbes. Herculaneum and Pompeii ; destroyed 
by an eruption from Mount Vesuvius in the second year of the reign 
of Titus, a. u. c. 832. Cf. Pliny's account of the catastrophe and the 
death of his uncle (Pliny the Elder), in a letter to Tacitus. Epis. 6, 
16, 20 ; and Plut. de Ser. Num. Vind., 42. 

32. Ora. Abl. of place without a prep. Wr. connects it with 
the following clause, and refers the clause to the desolation of the 
Campanian country by the fires of Vesuvius. — Incendiis. Besides 
that in which the capitol was burnt (3, 71-2), there was another and 
more dreadful conflagration of the city (Rome) in the reign of Titus, 
a. u. 833. Cf. Dio. 66, 24. Or. 

1. Poliutae caerimoniae, sc. incestis Vestalium. Suet. Dom.QO 
8,22; Plin. Epp. 4, 11, 6. — Magna adalteria, i. e. principnm viro- 
rum. So magnae domus, amicitiae, inimicitiae, etc. = houses, &c, 

of the great. 

2. Plenum .... mare. The sea full of exiles (exsiliis for exsu- 



250 NOTES. 

Page 

09 libus) on their way to, or in possession of, those barren rocky islands 
(scopuli), particularly in the Aegean, to which they were banished, 
and which were afterwards stained with their blood (infecti caedi- 
bus). 

3. Omissi .... honores. Honors, whether declined or accepted. 
Dion informs us, that Domitian put Herenuius Senecio to death, be- 
cause he asked no office after having held the quaestorship. Dion, 
67, 13. 

5. Delatorum. A post-Augustan word, found especially in Taci- 
tus and Suetonius. Cf. Freund's Lexicon, sub voce. The thing taking 
a new form under the emperors, gave rise to a new word. 

6. Procurationes. The office of procurator, or collector of the 
imperial revenues, afforded ample opportunity for amassing wealth. 

T. Intcriorem potent i am. Power at court, such as was exer- 
cised by the freedmen and other creatures of Nero and his successors. 
— Agerent verterent. Compare agere ferre (= Greek aystv ical <piptiv) 
used by Livy to express ravaging with fire and sword; literally, leading 
off the captives and bearing off the spoil. The use of verterent in this 
fonnula is peculiar to Tacitus, if not also to this passage, to which it is 
peculiarly appropriate, since lo the idea of rapine expressed by agere, 
it superadds that of riolcncc and cruelty. The phrase may be trans- 
lated (though inadequately), plundered and destroyed. — Odio ct ter- 
rore. Amid hatred and terror. Wr. By reason of the hatred, they 
cherished and the terror thry inspired. Rnp. 

C11. Ill— 11. Prodiderit. For the subj., cf. Gr. 262, R. 1; 
Z. 532. For the perf. subj. instead of the impcrf., cf. note, chap. 24 : 
dederit. 

I*. Supremae .... necessitates. Illustrious men were re- 
duced to the last necessities, such as precede and threaten death or 
render it unavoidable, but not (as many suppose) death itself; for 
they are here distinguished from exitus, and, as used elsewhere, the 
words denote, not death, but the prior necessity, whether imposed by 
popular indignation, as in the case of Tigellinus, 1, 72, or the loss of 
imperial favor through calumny, as in the case of Messaliua, Aim. 
11, 37 (where pi. as here : supremis necessitatibus), or the direct com- 
mand of the emperor, as in the case of Seneca, Ann. 15, 61. Cf. also 
necessitate, His. 4, 11. This clause was probably meant to state only 
a general fact, introductory to the virtues specified in the next two 
clauses ; though, as Wr. suggests, the bare existence of such necessi- 
ties, when they might have been escaped by obsequious compliance 
with the tyrant's wishes, was no small proof of virtue. The word 
necessitas properly denotes, that which is unavoidable (ne-cessum, 
from cedo. Cf. Freund, sub v.). 

15. Ipsa .... tolerata. This clause has occasioned commen- 
tators so much perplexity, that some of the ablest of them, e. g. Ritter 



BOOK I. 251 

Page 

and Ruperti, propose to expunge it at once, as a mere gloss. And oq 
they have good reason to be dissatisfied with most of the comments, 
for, almost without exception, they either sacrifice the force of ipsa, or 
make necessitas something quite different from necessitates, which, 
though maintained by Dod., is not borne out by the usage of Tacitus, 
and can hardly be supposed in such a juxtaposition as this. But does 
not the following interpretation avoid both these objections and meet 
all the demands of the passage ? Illustrious men were reduced to 
the last necessities (involving or threatening death) ; the necessity 
itself was endured with fortitude? and the deaths (which ensued) 
were equal to the glorious deaths of the ancients. Ipsa thus marks 
the antith. between necessitas and exitus ; while necessitas is distin- 
guished from exitus and identified with necessitates, as it manifestly 
should be. 

16. Exitus. See the word used in like manner in the pi. of the 
deaths of Cassius and the Brutuses, Ann. 1, 10, which passage may 
also illustrate the kind of exitus that is meant here. 

17. Prodigia = prodicia. The letters Gr and C were originally 
identical ; hence the resemblance in form. See Zumpt's Lat. Gr. 
So negotium = nec-otium, &c. 

20. Justis = luculentis, manifestis. Rup. Magis justis in- 
diciis. More conclusive proofs. — Before esse ultionem, the antith. 
particle sed is understood. It is often omitted by T. 

Ch. IV. — 22. Repetendum. Necessary to go back, and de- 
scribe the existing state of things prior to the date of the history, 
i. e. from the death of Nero to the second consulship of Galba, cf. 
note 1 : Galba .... consules. For a fuller account of this interval 
between the close of the Annals and the beginning of the Histories, 
the reader may consult Suetonius' Nero and Galba ; Plutarch's 
Galba ; Dio. 63, 22, seqq. &c. — Componam. For the mode and tense, 
cf. Gr. 263, 3 ; Z, 576. 

25. Q,uid fuerit. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

26. Fortuiti. Inexpectati et haud promissi, non in se, sed quoad 
nos. So Brotier. But Tacitus probably means more than this, viz. 
that particular events (as for instance the rise of Otho and Vitellius, 
rather than any other ambitious men of their day, and the victory of 
the latter rather than the former), are the result of accident or for- 
tune ; but at the same time there were general principles or causes at 
work, which rendered certain and necessary these or similar events : 
and these causes, even more than those fortuitous events, it is the 
province of history to investigate. Cf. Wr. in loc. The wonderful 
sagacity and wisdom with which Tacitus has accomplished this end, 
constitute a chief merit of his history. 

2T. Ut . ita. Though .... yet. Z. 726. 

30. Legiones ducesque, sc. in the provinces, foris being under- 



252 NOTES. 

Page 

oo stood ill antithesis to in urbe. — Evulgato .... arcano, etc. Cf. Liv* 
26, 2, where the author says, it was deemed by the senate a bad pre- 
cedent, imperatores legi ab exercitibus, et sollenne auspicatorum corai- 
tiorum in castra et provincias, procul ab legibus magistratibusque, ad 
militarem temeritatem transferri. The emperors might well cherish 
the same as an established principle. Galba was the first instance of 
an emperor appointed by the army in one of the provinces, and he was 
the first victim to the secret thus evulgato. Evulgato arcano here 
denotes the principal cuuse of this excitement. 
33. Absentem. Galba was in Spain. 

34:. Integra = sound, uncorrupt, literally untouched (in and tan- 
go), so our word holy derived from whole. 

35. In spem erecti, sc. of a better government, and one under 
which the families of the condemned and exiled might recover their 
lost fortunes. Erecti is predicate of pars, as well as of clientes. Pars 
populi, etc. is antithetic to plcbs sordida, etc. 

36. Sueta for assueta. T. prefers the simple to the compound. 
Cf. note, missa, 2 7 supra. 

QQ Cn. V. — 2. Arte et impulsu. Ars spectat ad dolum quo deci- 
piebantur, impulsus ad vim, qua per exemplum ceterorum subito tra- 
hebantur. Wr. Roth makes it hendiadys. 

5. Praeventam gratiam. They apprehended that the legions 
that appointed Galba would have the first place in his favor. 

T. Scelere. Criminal ambition, explained by impcrium sibi mo- 
lientis. — Insuper. Still further, i. e. besides offering them largesses in 
the name of Galba, furthermore plotting to secure the empire for 
himself. 

8. Praefecti. Commander of the Praetorian Guards (inilcs ur- 
banus). 

10. Conscientia, se. male facti acerrimus stimulus ad odium et 
res novas moliendas. Ernesti. 

11. Senium. Galba was 73 years old at his accession to the 
throne. Plut. Galba, 8 ; cf. ch. 49, infra. — Avaritiam Galbae. Cf. 
Suet. Galb. 12. 

15. Amarent. Subj. Cf. Gr. 262, R. 1 ; Z. 531. 

16. Verebautur = reverebantur. Simple for compound. — Ac- 
cessit . . . . vox. Add to this the language of Galba, sc. in reply to- 
the soldiers' demand for the promised largess. Cf. 3, 57 : accessit .... 
omen. — Pro republica. As it regards the republic. Most writers 
would have used the dat. to correspond with ipsi in the antithesis. 
But Tacitus prefers variety. 

IT. Legi. Chosen, hence the very name legio, also delectus. 
Cf. Varro de Ling. Lat. lib. 4. — Nee .... erant. The language of 
Galba was unsuited to the times, nothing else corresponded with it. 
The clause is placed by some at the beginning of the next section^ 



book i. 253 

Fngt 

and made to express the inconsistency between the language of Galba no 
and his conduct, or that of his prime ministers, Vinius and Laco. But 
that is not so well. 

Ch. VI. — 19. Invalidum senem. Galba. Cf. Note, 5: senium. 
Concerning Vinius and Laco, see also Plut. Galb. 7. 10. 12 ; Suet. 
Galb. 14 ; Vitel. 7. 

20. Odio flagitiorum, sc. of Vinius transferred to Galba. So also 
contemptu inertiae, primarily of Laco, secondarily of his master. 
* 21. Galbae iter, sc. from Hither Spain, where he had been gov- 
ernor eight years. 

22. Cingonio Varrone. Cf. Ann. 14, 45 ; His. 1, 37 ; Plut. 
Galb. 14-16: where we learn that Varro had composed an oration for 
Nymphidius to address to the Praetorian Guards as a means of secu- 
ring his elevation to the imperial dignity. 

23. Petronio Turpiliano. Ann. 14, 29. 39 ; 15, 72 ; A. 16 ; 
Plut. Galb. 14-17. 

24:. Inauditi, in the judicial sense, is post-Augustan. Cf. Boet- 
ticher's Lex. Tac. and Freund's Lex. sub v. 

25. Tanquam inuoceiites. Though guilty, yet being put to 
death without a trial, as innocent persons are by tyrants, they had 
the sympathies of men, as if innocent. — Trucidatis .... militum. 
Seven thousand marines slain, while pertinaciously demanding admis- 
sion to the regular service. Cf. His. 1, 87 : Suet. Galb. 12 ; Dio. 64,3. 
Dion says the survivors were subsequently decimated. Cf. 37, infra. 

29. Xumeri = cohortes, manipuli, manus militum. Rup. Cf. A. 
18 ; His. 1, 87 ; 2, 69. This use of the word is post-Augustan. Cf. 
Freund. It points to the composition and arrangement of a body of 
troops, as it were, by numbers. 

31. Claustra Caspiarum. A narrow pass in 8ft. Taurus near 
the Caspian sea, called claustra, as closing or securing the entranco 
to the country. It was the only passage from the northern part of 
Western Asia into Persia and India. 

32. Vindicis. Cf. note, chap. 8, infra. 

Ch. VII. — 3 5. Congruerat. Casu aliquo acciderat, ut simul 
nuntiarentur. Rup. — Clodii Macri. An avaricious and cruel gov- 
ernor of Numidia, who on the death of Nero aspired to independence 
and undertook to cut oft' supplies of corn from Rome. Cf. His. 1, 11, 
37. 73 ; 2, 97; 4, 49 ; also Suet, and Plut. Galb. — Fonteii Capitonis. 
Legate (military governor) of Lower Germany. His character is de- 
scribed, His. 1, 52 ; the cause of his death, 3, 62. 

36. Nuntiarentur. For the subj. cf. Gr. 262, R. 3.—Haud 
dubie. Antith. to fuere qui crederent below. The whole sentence 
is made up of studied antitheses. 

3T. Procurator. Cf. A. 4, and note, 2 : procurations. 

38. Coeptaret. Subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 5 ; Z. 577. 

22 



254 NOTES. 

Page 

OA 1» Legati legionum. Commanders of a single legion each. Cf. 
legatus praetorius, A. 7. Capito was legatus consularis. The word 
legatus = any commissioned officer. 

2. Juberentur. Subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 3 ; Z. 576.— Crederent. Cf. 
Gr. 264, 6 ; Z. 561.— £/* ita. Though yet. 

3. Avaritia, etc. Cf. 1, 52. 

5, Postquam .... nequiverint. The subj. in a dependent clause 
of the oratio obliqua. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603. Postquam is usually 
followed by the indie, unless the subj. is required by some specific 
reason. For the perf. here, cf. Gr. 258, R. 3 ; Z. 504, Note. The 
use of the perf. instead of the pluperf. after postquam, makes the con- 
nection of time closer ; postquam should accordingly be rendered as 
soon as. Arnold's Pr. Intr. 514. 

6. Compositum ultro. Fabricated gratuitously. Cf. 3, 62. — 
Mobilitatc .... scrularetur. Sub. utrum, or incertum an before mo~ 
bilitatc. T. leaves it uncertain which of the two was the true reason. 

f« Q,uoquo inodo acta, is the obj. of comprobasse : he approved 
them in whatever tray done, i. e. whether right or wrong. 

8. Sinistre occurs in Boetticher's list of words belonging to the 
poets of an earlier age. 

9. Facta is subj. noiii. to premunt, which has for its obj. cum un- 
derstood. 

10. Jam = jam vera, moreover. Now over and above all that 
had been previously done, the freedmen of Galba brought every thing 
into the market. Ci. Dod. in loc. — Affercbant, according to Wr., is 
appropriate to those recently arrived at power : they came to Rome 
and the palace bringing these things in their hands, as it were, and 
offering them for sale to tho highest bidder. — Cuncta, e. g. munera, 
magistratus, jura, judicia. Ernesti. — Liberti, sc. Galba's. Icelus is 
specified, § 13, and others are named by Suet. Galb. 14. 15. 

11. Subitis avidae. Eager to avail themselves of their unex- 
pected good fortune ; highly characteristic of slaves. D6d. makes 
subitis abl. of cause. — Et tanquam, etc. And on account of Galba's 
advanced age, making haste to enrich themselves, while he afforded 
them the opportunity. 

1 2. Novae, sc. Galba's, in contrast with which understand veleris, 
sc. Nero's. — Nan aeque excusata. Not viewed with equal indulgence. 
Quid ita ? Quia Nero ortu et natalibus Princeps, quia juvenis, quia in 
plebeni etiam gratiosus. Itaque piusculum ei licere volebant et ignos- 
cebant. Non sic in Galba qui electus, qui senex erat, ideoque prudens 
esse debebat, qui denique parcus, tristis et perpaucis grata. Lipsius. 

14:. Imperatores. Imperator was originally the commander of 

a Roman army. Of course there might be several at a time in the 

republic. But at length the title was appropriated by the emperor, 

'and thus acquired a new meaning. Cf. Ann. 3, 74. So princeps was 



book i. 255 

Page 

at this time applied only to the emperor and his sons. The namesoi 
and forms of the republic were carefully preserved under the emperors. 
— Forma = beauty of person. — Decore = grace of manners. Wr. 

Ch. VIII. — 16. Tanquam .... multitudine. As might be ex- 
pected in so great a multitude, sc. that there would be those taking 
such views of the character of Galba and his friends, as have been 
described in the previous chapter. This explanation of Or. seems 
preferable to that of Wr., who interprets the clause thus : so far as it 
is possible to describe the state of mind in so great and so various a 
population. 

IT. E provinciis. Of the provinces. Antith. to Romae. No- 
tice the emphatic position of both at the beginning of the sentence. 

18. Cluvius Rufus. Cf. Ann. 13, 20 ; His. 1, 76 ; 2, 65 ; 4,43 ; 
Suet. Nero, 91. He was a writer of history. Piin. Epis. 9, 19. — Pads 
artibus. Roth, Rhenanus and others supply expertus, as involved by 
zeugma in inexpertus, and render: experienced in the arts of peace. 
See the principle of this interpretation, Essay on the Style of Tacitus, 
p. 15. But Wr., Rup. and Ernesti make artibus abl. of quality (Gr. 
211, R. 6), and render: endowed with the virtues of peace. Cf. 
Ann. 1, 19: Blaesus multa arte dicendi. 

19. Vindicis. Julius Vindex, proprsetor of Gaul under Nero, 
himself descended from a line of Gallic kings though his father was a 
Roman senator, stirred up the Gauls to revolt from Nero and incited 
Galba to claim the throne. He was defeated and slain by Verginius, 
1, 51 ; 4, 57. His memory would of course lead the Gauls to favor 
Galba. 

20. Dono .... civitatis. Claudius had conferred the gift of 
Roman citizenship upon the Gallic chiefs (Ann. 11, 23), but Galba 
gave it to all who had taken part with Vindex. The wise distribution 
of this favor was a source of great power and influence to the Roman 
state, cum id rarum, nee nisi virtuti pretium esset. Of its value to in- 
dividuals we have a striking example in the life of Paul, Acts, 16, 
37. 38 ; 22, 25-29. Cf. also Cic. in Ver. 5, 62 : civis Romanus sum. 
It was now conferred with too unsparing a hand, and finally lost its 
value when Caracalla bestowed it indiscriminately on all the inhabit- 
ants of the Roman empire. 

25. Recentis victoriae, sc. over Vindex under the command of 
Verginius. This victory was of course a source of pride ; but it was 
also a ground of vexation (irati), anxiety (solliciti) and fear (metu), 
because though a real service to the state for which they deserved 
reward, it was rendered to Nero, and was more likely to be punished 
than rewarded by Galba. 

26. Metu, tanquam, etc. = fear, that they would be regarded 
as having favored another party, sc. than Galba's, viz. that of Ver- 
ginius. For the subj., cf. Gr. 263, 2 ; Z. 572. 



25 G NOTES. 

Page 

04 2T. Verginius. Verginius Rufus, legate of Upper Germany un- 
der Nero. See some account of his character and the relation of T. 
to him in the Life of Tacitus. Also Plin. Ep. 2, 1 ; 5, 3 ; 6, 10 ; and 
Plut. Galb. — Imperare = esse imperator. 

28. Voluisset. Subj. to denote an indirect question. Cf. Gr. 265 ; 
Z. 552. Plup. to correspond with the imperf., on which it depends, 
and which is used in all this account of the state of things prior to the 
date of the history. — Dubium, sc. erat : it was a matter of uncertainty 
to the men of that day, whether he wished to be emperor. So con- 
veniebat : it icas agreed by all authorities of that day. 

30. Abducto. sc. by Galba, to whom he had been calumniated by 
Fabius Valens, 3, 62. 

31. Q,uem .... reum esse. The fact, that he was not sent 
back to them and was even called to an account, they construed as 
a charge against themselves. 

Ch. IX. — 3 3. Superior exercitus. The army of Upper Ger- 
many, autith. to Infcrioris Germaniae legiones just below. The 
German armies in general were the subject of the latter part of the 
previous section. Here the author specifies tho two divisions. — Hor- 
deon'uim Flnrcum. Appointed legate of Upper Germany by Galba, 
instead of Verginius recalled. His name will occur often in the sub- 
sequent history. See also Plut. Galb. 

31. Debilitate pedum invalidum. He was afflicted with the 
gout. Pint. Galb. 16. 

35. \c .... quidem. Not even. — Quicto milite = quum quieti 
erant militoe. — Regimen. Sub. ejus erat = eos regere poterat. Rup. 

36. Aden = much more (lit. in addition to that). Cf. 4, 80: 
aequalium quoque, nde.o superiorum intolerantis. So adeo non = still 
less, 3, 39. 

3T. lnferioris Germaniae. It should be understood, that Up- 
per and Lower Germany here include no part of that Germany proper 
of which T. treats in his de German ia, and which was not conquered 
by the Romans ; hut they are two Roman provinces into which Ger- 
mania Cisrhenana was subdivided, both on the left or Gallic bank of 
the Rhine, Upper Germany towards its source, Lower Germany to- 
wards its mouth (now Belgium). They were peopled by German 
tribes. — Csmsulari. Cf. notes supra, chap. 7: Foideii Capttonis, and 
Legati legionum. 

3 8. A. Vitellius. Afterwards emperor. He had been consul 
(Ann. 11, 23), and of course was now consularis. Of Vitellius the 
father, see Ann. 6, 28 ; 14, 56 ; 12, 4. 5. 42. et al. 
3£j !• Id satis videbatur, sc. to Galba and his advisers, who thought 
that the rank of Vitellius would satisfy the legions, though his gluttony 
and effeminacy rendered him quite unfit for such a charge. Cf. Suet. 
Vitel. 7 : contemptu magis quam gratia electum. The rise of such a 



BOOK I. 257 

Page 

man to the supreme power, is doubtless one of the fortuiti eventus of ok 
which T. speaks in chap. 4. 

2» Irarum, sc. in Galbam. 

4:. Hostem potius, sc. quam cives. 

5. Excitae. Called out, raised. The same troops that are spo- 
ken of in § 6. 

6. Legationibus adissent. Cf. legationibus coeunt, G. 39, 
note. The purpose of the embassy has been sufficiently intimated in 
8: delatum ei imperium, etc. For the subj. after quanquam, cf. 
note, 5, 21. 

Ch. X. — 1 1 • Obtinebat. Cf. A. 39, note on same word. — Licinius 
Mucianus. Cf. Suet. Vesp. 6, 13. See his character more fully, 2, 5. 
A prominent man in all the subsequent history, especially under 
Vespasian. 

1 2. Famosus. In this sense scarcely used, except by poets, be- 
fore Tacitus. Cf. Boetticher's Lex. Tac. — Juvenis, when young, 
antith. to mox. 

14r. Repositus. Wr. renders retiring, as if it were voluntary. 
But that hardly suits the meaning of the word. Lit. put back, laid 
aside, and hence buried, which significations exactly suit the adjuncts 
in secretum : buried in an obscure portion of Asia. So Ritter, Ru- 
perti and Orelli. — Prope ab. A peculiar Latin idiom. Cf. protinus 
ab, G. 43, note. 

15, Postea a principe. The allusion is to the almost imperial 
power of Mucianus under Vesp. Cf. A. 7, note, and places there cited. 
— Luxuria .... mixtus = in eo mixtae erant luxuria, etc. Cf. A. 4 : 
locum mixtum. 

17. Vacaret. Subj. after cum denoting cause, as well as time. — 
Expedierat = in expeditionem sive ad bellum profectus erat. Ernesti. 
Only T. uses the word thus without an object. It properly means, to 
clear the way, prepare, &c. See the fuller construction, 2, 99 : ex- 
pcdire ad bellum. 

18. Laudares. Al. laudes. But laudares has the better au- 
thority and makes a better construction. You (any one, men) would 
praise his public life (palam acta) ; so crederes, 45 ; timeres, A. 22, 
&c. Gr. 209, R. 7 ; Z. 528, N. 2. 

19. Collegas. Governors of neighboring provinces. The word 
means chosen together ; hence either those chosen at the same elec- 
tion, or those chosen to the same office. 

20. Cui = is, cui or talis, ut ei, a man of such a character, that, 
etc. Hence followed by the subj. The reference here is to the prom- 
inent part which Mucianus acted in conferring the supreme power on 
Vesp. Cf. 2, 76. 

21. Flavius Vespasianus. It was the history of Vesp. and his 
eons, Titus and Domitian, that T. chiefly intended to write. Hence, 

22* 



258 NOTES. 

Page 

QKfrom the first, he relates whatever pertains to them, with special care 
and fulness. 

24. Suo loco, sc. 2, 1. 

25. Occulta lege fati. Or., after the Medicean MS., omits 
lege. 

26. Post fortunam = postquam Imperator factus est. Ernesti. 
2T. Credidimus = sensim credere didicimus. Rup. There were 

intimations (ostentis ac rcsponsis) enough beforehand; but it was 
only after their fulfilment that we learned properly to understand and 
fully to believe them. Of these ostenta ac responsa, a fuller account is 
given, 2, 76 ; also in Suet, and Josephus. 

Ch. XL — 28. Ctuibus coerceretur. By which it was to he kept 
in subjection. The subj. denoting purpose. 

29. Loco regum. In the place of their former kings, and hence 
with regal jxneer. Ad rem., cf. Ann. 12, GO. Ad verbum, Z. 481. 

30. Annonae tecundam. Egypt was the granary of Rome; 
hence the importance to the emperor of keeping it under his own 
control. 

31. Supcrstitionc. Witness the Egyptian worship of animals, 
5, 5. — Insaam legum. Because always under absolute government. 
lusriam properly refers to learning, ignaram to experience. Dod. 

3 2. Doini retinere. To retain in his own hands, i. e. to govern 
himself, or by agents directly responsible to him, not to the senate, as 
most of the provinces were. See retinere in tho sense of govern in 9: 
retincntis. i>o Tor. and Cic. use domi habeo or domi est mihi = I 
have it with me, I have it myself. Ad rem., cf. Ann. 2, 59. Tho 
agents of Augustus in the government of Egypt were tho Romani 
equites mentioned above. The provinces were for tho most part gov- 
erned by men of higher than equestrian rank. 

33. Tib. Alexander. Cf. Ann. 15, 28; Suet. Vesp. 6.— Ejus- 
dem nationis, i. e. an Egyptian, though he was of Jewish descent. 

3 5. Domini niinoris. A master of lower rank, sc. Macor, who 
set up for independence and played the petty tyrant, till they were 
more than satisfied. See his character above, note, chap. 7. — Duae 
Mauretaniae, sc. Tingitaua et Caesariensis, cf. 2, 58. 

36. Procuratoribus. Dativus subjectivus. Rup. Cf. Gr. 225, 2. 
These provinces, having no army stationed in them, were led to favor 
or oppose the government at Rome, just as the nearest or strongest 
anny in their vicinity took sides. 

31. Cohibentur = reguntur. Used in this sense only by Tacitus. 
Such words (cohibere, retinere, coercere) are highly significant of the 
nature of the Roman dominion over the provinces. 

38. Inermes provinciae. Provinces without armies, such as 
Achaia, Sicily, &c. So inermes legati (2, 81), the legates of such 
provinces. 



book i. 259 

Page 

2. Ill pretium, etc. Were destined to become the prize of the oe 
war, i. e. of the victorious party elsewhere. How fallen from the Italy 
that conquered the world ! 

Ch. XII. — 6. Kal. Januarias. Al. Cal. The letter K has been 
superseded by C everywhere except in such abbreviations. See Zumpt, 
5. On the reckoning of time among the Romans, see App. to 
Leverett's Lex. or Gr. 326. The names of the months are always 
adj., agreeing either with the noun which designates the part of the 
month (as here with Kal.), or with mensis understood, in which case 
they are of course always masc. 

T. Belgica, sc. Gallia. 

9. Flagitare. Demand urgently or imperatively, stronger than 
poscere or postulare. 

10. Acciperetur. Subj. cf. Gr. 262, R. 9 ; Z. 536. 

1 2. Adoptione, sc. of a son and successor at his death. — Proximis. 
His friends and advisers. Cf. 10: apud proximos. — Non sane crebrior. 
Indeed there was no more frequent topic of conversation, sc. than 
Galba's choice of a successor. Cf. non sane aliae, 9. 

14. Licentia, unrestrained liberty; libidine, strong passion. 
Roth makes them synonyms. — Fessa aetate. Infirm old age. Cf. 
3,67. 

1 6. Stulta spe. Al. occulta spe. Foolish, i. e. hastily conceived 
and ill-founded. — Ambitiosis rumoribus, i. e. reports designed to gain 
the favor of Galba for their respective friends and patrons, and thus 
indirectly to promote their own interest. 

IT. In .... odium. To gratify their hatred. Cf. A. 5: in 
jactationem, note. 

1 8. Eodem actu. An unusual expression for idem agendo = by 
this means, and of course in the same proportion. Cf. Or. in loc. 

1 9. Hiantes .... cupiditates. So Cic. in Verr. 2, 54 : hians 
avaritia, hians denoting, 1. The outward expression of hunger; 2. 
Any craving desire. In magna fortuna points to the occasion or 
exciting cause of the craving. 

20. Intendebat. Was increasing, lit. stretching, adding inten- 
sity to. — Cum .... peccaretur. Since crimes might be committed, 
etc. Cum causale followed by the subj., cf. Gr. 263, 5 ; Z. 577. — Cre- 
dulum. Confiding, explained by amicorum libertorumque patiens, 
etc., chap. 49. 

Ch. XIII. — 22. Potentia principatus. The supreme power, or 
the absolute control of the government. Cf. potentiam, 1. So Suet, 
says (Galb. 14) : Regebatur trium arbitrio, etc. 

24. Icelo. Cf. Suet. Nero, 49 ; Plut. Galb. l.—Liberto. Freed- 
men ruled the state in this degenerate age, a proof that liberty was 
extinct, as Tacitus suggests, G. 25. — Annulis, sc. aureis, the badge 
of knighthood. — Equestri nomine. " Equestre nomen est nomen no- 



260 NOTES. 

Pa ° e 

o£ bilissimarum equestritimque gentium familiare, non deducendum a 

Marte sed fortasse a Marcus, i. o. Masculus, v. Voss. Etym." Wisso- 

wa, cited by Ruperti. 

25. Rebus niinoribus. In matters of less importance, autith. 
to circa consilium, etc. In is omitted before the abl. here for the 
sake of brevity. Cf. Essay on the Style of Tacitus, p. 12. 

26. Circa = in respect to. Cf. G. 28. " Circa apud T. = de 
et in apud Cic." Bach. 

2T. Sciudebantur, in this sense, is poetical (cf. Boetticher) and 
Virgilian. Cf. Virg. Aen. 2, 39. 

28. Consensu .... alium. Agreed in supporting, not so much 
any particular one (cf. unum aliquem, 6), as some other, than Otho. 

3 2. Subisse, sc. animum Galbae. Cf. 37: horror animum subit. 
Render: influenced. The word implies a silent, secret influence. 
Cf. A. 3. 

33. Relinqueretur, sc. quasi hcreditate. Rup. For the mode 
and tense, cf. Gr. 261, 1 ; Z. 524. 

34. Otho. Cf. Ann. 13,45.46; Suet. Otho; and Plut. Galba 
and Otho. 

35. Eo = ideo. 

36. Jam, antith. to mox, denotes time = already. 

3T. Octaviam .... amoliretur. He divorced her on a charge 
of adultery, and afterwards put her to death. Ann. 14, 60-64. The 
subj. after donee here is according to the general rule (cf. Gr. 263, 4 ; 
Z. 575), for here it refers to a purpose or object to be attained. But 
Tacitus disregards this distinction, and uses the subj. after donee refer- 
ring to a mere fact, e. g. 4, 35 : pugnatum, donee proelium nox diri- 
meret ; 1, 35: donee .... levaretur, where see note. 

38. Suspectum .... Poppaea. Cf. Ann. 13, 46, where the 
character of this accomplished but depraved woman is sketched, and 
a full account is given of her relation to Otho and Nero, which how- 
ever cannot be reconciled with this passage in the Histories. Accord- 
ing to the later and doubtless more correct account in the Annals, 
Poppsea was the wife of Otho, from whom she was taken by Nero. 
on 1. Lusitaniain. A part of Spain, now Portugal. Hence the 
name which the great Portuguese poet, Camoens, gave his poem in 
honor of his country, viz. the Lusiad. — Specie legationis. He ban- 
ished him under pretence of conferring upon him an honorable office. 
Hence Otho speaks of it, as honor exsilii, 21. Cf. also Ann. 13, 46. 
— Comiter. Civiliter et populariter. — Administrata. 10 years. Suet. 
Otho, 3. 

2. Partes, sc. Galba's. 

3. Praesentes, sc. in provincia duces. Rup. 

5. Rapiebat denotes the impetuosity with which he seized upon 
and cherished the hope. 



BOOK I. 261 

Page 

Ch. XIV. — 8. Ctuouam .... erumperet. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ;o« 
^. 552. 

9. Exercituum, sc. Germanicarum. — Urbano militi. Whose 
feelings are described in chap. 5. 

10. Comitia imperii. Language borrowed from the usages of 
the republic (cf. remarks on imperatores, 7), and properly denoting an 
assembly of the people for the choice of a magistrate, but here a coun- 
cil of a few friends and leading men convened for the nomination of a 
successor to Galba in the empire. 

11. Adhibito. Being called in, lit. being had in. For the 
number of adhibito, cf. Gr. 205, Exc. to R. 2. 

12. Praefecto urbis. A different office from the praefectus 
praetorii (13), being a kind of mayorship, to which the emperor ap- 
pointed from among those who had been consuls. 

13. Pisonem Lacmianum. Cf. Suet. Galb. 17: nobilem egregi- 
umque juvenem, etc. Ail accounts give Piso a character worthy of a 
better fortune and a better age. Cf. also Plut. Galb. 23. — Arcessi. A 
frequentative of accedo. Cf. Freund, sub voce. The MSS. here have 
accersiri. Or. and Dod. read accersi. 

14. Propria electioiie. Suet, (in loc. cit.) makes Piso an old 
acquaintance and friend of Galba : sibi olim probatissimum, testamen- 
toque semper in bona et nomen adscitum. 

15. Apud Rubellium, etc. At the house of Rubellius Plautus, 
of whose high rank, see Ann. 13, 19 ; and his death through the jeal- 
ousy of Nero, Ann. 14, 57. 59. 

18. Vultu habituque. Abl. of quality. Gr. 211, R. 6, (1) : with 
face and mien of the old style. Cf. habitus, G. 4. 17. Here it in- 
cludes form, dress and deportment, the whole outward man except the 
face (vultu). Or. and Dod. have voltu, after the older form. 

20. Tristior, sc. justo, Gr. 256, R. 9. Too gloomy, morose. 

21. Q,uo = by as much as; antithetic to eo magis understood 
before adoptandi, with the usual conciseness of Tacitus. 

Ch. XV. — 23. Privatus. Antithetic to ad imperium vocatum. 
Si also is antithetic to nunc. — Lege curiata, i. e. a law passed by the 
Roman people in their curiae ; for such a law was originally necessary 
to ratify an adoption or transfer from one family or gens to another. 
But long before the age of Galba, the comitia curiata (assembly of 
the curiae) had become obsolete (cf. remarks under comitia imperii, 
14), and all that was now requisite was the presence and sanction of 
the Pontifex, which office was held by the emperor, so that the lex 
curiata and the pontificate were concentrated in Galba. 

24. Et milii. Et = both, correl. to et tibi. The honor would 
have been mutual. — Erat. Ind. for subj. Not uncommon in Lat. 
= our it were. Cf. Gr. 259, R. 4 ; Z. 519, b. 

25. Cn. Pompeii. Abavus (great-great-grandfather) to Piso on 



262 NOTES. 

Page 

07 his mother's (Scribonia) side. Al. Gn. for Cn., cf. note on pro digia, 

3, supra. 

26. Sulpiciae ac Lutatiae, sc. gentis. Galba was of the Sul- 
pician gens, and his mother was a grand-daughter of Q. Lutatius 
Catulus. 

30. duiescenti. Antith. to hello adept us = in peace. So G. 
35: quiescenti, et passim. — Exemplo . . . Augusti. Cf. Ann. 1, 3. 
A singular fatality attended the efforts of Augustus to provide an heir 
and successor, one after another of his adopted sons being taken away 
by natural death or by the arts of Livia, wife of Augustus and mother 
of Tiberius. 

3 2. Nepotes. C. and L. Caesars, sons of Agrippa. Ann. 1, 3. 

34. In domo, sc. sua, which is omitted to make in domo corres- 
pond with in republica. — Non quia .... non = non quin. This use 
of quia is for the most part peculiar to late Latin authors. Cf. Z. 537. 
Cicero uses non quia non rarely, usually non quod non. Cf. Tusc. 
Qu»s. 1,11, and Kuhner's note, ibid. All these formulae are followed 
by the subjunctive. Cf. Z. 537 ; Arnold's Prose Introd. 492. 

35. Propinquos, relatives, such as the adopted sons of Aug. all 
were to him. — Socios belli, coadjutors in war, as Agrippa was to 
Aug. — Neque ipse = et ipse non, correlative to et before judicii. 
Cf. neque . . . . ac, A. 10 ; nee . . . . et , 6. 2, note ; also Zumpt, 338. 

36. Judicii. My unbiased judgment in the choice of a suc- 
cessor. Antithetic to ambit tone. The logical connection between 
the two clauses is this : I did not accept imperial power myself from 
ambitious motives, and in the choice of my successor, I have been 
governed, not by ambitious or selfish motives, but by sober and un- 
biased judgment (justis causis et vera aestimatione. Ernesti). 

3T. Necessitudines = propinqui. 
3g 1. Ea = such. Hence followed by the subj. Cf. Gr. 264 ; Z. 
556. 

2. Praeteritum is not superfluous, but prepares the way for the 
subsequent exhortation to lead a similar life in future. 

3. Excusandum habeas. This construction is peculiar to the 
age of Tacitus. Cf. Boetticher. — Fortunam .... adversam. Patre, 
matre, fratre a Claudio interfectis, fratre altero caeso a Nerone, et 
ipse diu exsul. Brotier. Cf. 21. 47. 48 in this Book. 

4. Acrioribus stimulis. Lit. sharper stings, here severer tests. 
Ad rem. Cf. Xen. Mem. 2, 1, 20 ; Plin. Epis. 9, 26. 

8. Immiiiuent, sc. tuam fidem, libertatem, etc. — Irrumpet. Sing. 
Gr. 209, R. 12, (2). — Pessimum . . . venenum. In appos. with utilitas, 
Wr. ; with blanditiae, Rup. Or. decides in favor of the latter, and 
argues, that if the former were the meaning, it would read pessimum- 
que, etc. 

9. Et jam = Gr. xal 6$. Wr. 



book i. 263 

10. Simplicissime. With the utmost sincerity. oq 

11. Fortuna nostra, ut adulatores cum prineipibus. Rup. i.e. 
not caring what we are, but what they may hope to gain by us. Ad 
verbum ac rem, cf. Ann. 2, 71 : vindicabitis vos (sc. me meamque 
mortem) si me potius, quam fortunam meam fovebatis. — Oporleat. 
Subj. Cf. Gr. 266, 1 ; Z. 545, a. 

Ch. XVI. — 14:. Si ... . posset. The subj. imperf. implies the 
impossibility of the thing supposed. Cf. Gr. 261, I ; Z. 524. — Librari. 
In cquilibrio quasi retineri. Rup. From libra. — Eram. Cf. note, 
15 : erat. 

15. Dignus inciperet. Gr. 264, 9 ; Z. 568. 

16. Nunc. Antith. to si. Cf. 14. = but now, i. e. as things 
are. 

19. Unius familiae, sc. Claudiae. 

20. Fuimus. We the Roman people. But coepimus, we em- 
perors. 

23. Judicium integrum. Cf. Judicii, 15, and note ibid. 

24-. Moustratur, sc. quis eligendus sit. — Consensu. So he says 
of himself, 15 : deorum hominumque consensu ad imperium voea- 
tum. 

26. Inermi provincia. Cf. note on inermes provinciae, 11. — 
Una legione. Formerly there were three legions in the Spanish army, 
Ann. 4, 5 ; but the spirit of the province was broken, and only one 
was now necessary, viz. the 6th. His. 5, 16. Cf. also Suet. Galb. 10. 
Yet three are mentioned again, 2, 97. 

28. Adhuc, sc. ante Neronem. — Nos. Galba and Piso, raised to 
the rank of princeps (asciti), Galba by the sword (bello), Piso by 
adoption based on merit, and both by men's good opinions (aestimanti- 
bus.) 

30. Ne .... fueris. Subj. perf. with ne, for the imperative. 
Cf. Gr. 260, R. 6 ; Z. 5. The periphrastic form ne territus fueris 
differs from ne terreare, as the aorist subj. in Greek does from the pres. 
subj. The former means be not terrified, and implies that he is not ; 
while the latter would mean cease to be terrified, and would imply 
that he was. Dod. Ne, like the Greek pfj, is usually a subjective 
negative, followed by the imperative or the subjunctive, to express a 
prohibition, or an intention or wish negatively. So ne . . . . desidere- 
tur just below. Ut non, on the contrary, denotes only a negative 
result. Ne appears, however, to have been originally the absolute 
negative particle of the Latin language, from which non (noenum, 
ne-unum) and the other negatives were derived. Cf. Freund's Lexi- 
con, sub voce. Of this original use we have a relic in the phrase ne 
.... quidem, which is accordingly followed by the indicative, e. g. 
supra: ne ipse quidem accessi. 

32. Et audita, etc. Et connects the two reasons, why Piso 



264 NOTES. 

Pa^e 

qq should not be alarmed: 1. The circumstances attending Galba's ac- 
cession to the supreme power ; 2. The fact that the only objection 
against Galba is now removed. 

35. Neque . . . . et. Correlative, as in 15. To exhort you fur- 
ther, in the first place suits not the present occasion, and in the next 
place there is no need of it, the necessity being superseded by the 
happy choice he had made in Piso. 

3T. Idem ac = as well as. — Bonarum .... rerum, i. e. between 
good and bad measures. 
9Q 2. Regnantur. Governed by kings. Poetice. Cf. Virg. Aen. 
6, 794 ; and note, G. 25, et al. 

3. Ctui uec totam, etc. T. here gives us at a stroke an exact 
picture of the Romans in that age. His Annals and History are from 
beginning to end a commentary on this text. 

5. Tanquam .... faceret, i. e. with deliberation and dignity — 
tanquam cum facto, sc. principe : the rest talked with Piso as with 
one alrcudi/ made princeps, i. e. with eager and servile flattery. 

This speech of Galba is worthy to be studied, as a manual of moral 
and political wisdom. Every sentence is a maxim for the world and 
all time. Yet it is all especially befitting the aged and experienced 
Galba in an address to his adopted son. See Life of T., p. 13. 

Cn. XVII. — 7. Statiin refers to the time of the ceremony. Mox 
after its close. 

10. Yultu habituque. Vultus de ore, habitus de toto corpore. 
Wf. Cf. 14, note. 

11. Ctuasi imperare, etc. Another single stroke, that reveals 
a whole character, and a noble character too, whose self-respect com- 
mands our veneration and makes us mourn his misfortunes. For the 
subj. cf.Gr. 263, 2; Z. 572. 

1 2. Pro rostris, i. e. in the forum, before the people ; in castris, 
i. e. to the soldiers of the Praetorian Guard. 

13. In castra, for the army had the power, not the senate or 
the people. Observe the difference between in castra and in castris. 
Gr. 235, 2; Z. 316. 

14. Ut . . . . ita. Antithetic. Cf. 4. The infinitives in this 
sentence depend on a verb understood (they said, they thought), and 
express the motive for going to the camp. The subj. usually stands 
in the dependent clauses of such sentences (oratio obliqua). Cf. Gr. 
266, 2 ; Z. 603. 

15. Per bonas artes. Sub. acquisitum. 

16. Publica exspectatio. Abstract for concrete, poetice, = popu- 
lus impatienter exspectans. 

Ch. XVIII. 19. Q,uartum idus. The fourth before (ante) the 
Ides = Jan. 10. 

%0» Turbaverant. Observe the pluperf. where we with less 



book i. 265 

Page 

exactness use the imperf. Cf. Z. 505. The bad weather was prior to qq 
the announcement cf the adoption in the camp. 

21. Observatum. Cf. usitatum, A. 1. The Latin is fond of 
concrete words. Cf. note 1 : post conditam urbem. — Comitiis diri- 
mendis. For the use of the gerundive see Gr. 275, 2 ; Z. 656. Dat. 
of the end ; lit. observed for the dissolving of the assembly, i. e. re- 
garded as a reason why an election should not proceed. Cf. Cic. de 
Div. In nostris commentariis scriptum habemus : Jove tonante, ful- 
gurante, comitia populi habere nefas. The power thus intrusted to 
the pontiffs and the presiding officers at the elections was greatly 
abused ; elections were deferred or declared null and void on false 
pretences by patrician officers, whenever they resulted or were likely 
to result in favor of the plebeians. See Arn. His. of Rome, vol. 1, 
passim. — Non terruit, quo minus. Did not deter him from proceed- 
ing. 

22. Pergeret. Proceed (from per-rego, go straight through). For 
the construction see Gr. 262, R. 9 ; Z. 54£. 

25. Iniperatoria brevitate, qua imperator uti solet ac debet. 
Rup. Compare the Queen's Speech in Great Britain. 

26. Exemplo militari. " According to a military custom es- 
tablished at an early period of the commonwealth, every Roman sol- 
dier chose his favorite comrade, and by that tie of friendship all were 
mutually bound to share every danger with their fellows. The con- 
sequence was, that a warlike spirit pervaded the whole army. Cf. 
Liv. 9, 39." Murphy. See also Drak. ad loc. cit. in Liv. — Legeret. 
Subj. Cf. Gr. 266, 1 ; Z. 545, a. 

2T. Seditio, sc. duarum legionum Germanicarum, 16. — In majus. 
Cf. in melius, in deterius, in mollius, a favorite form of expression 
with T. passim. Sometimes used in the same sense without the in. 
Used with different verbs, e. g. cadere, accipere, credere, trahere, ha- 
beri, etc. Ang. : taken for, or believed to be, greater, better, or worse, 
sc. than the reality, or than it otherwise would be. 

29. Verba ac voces. Not exactly synonymous. Voces suggests 
more the idea of discordant cries and murmurs. Or. See further in 
note, 27: clamore et gaudiis. 

30» In officio fore, lit. would shortly be in (the performance of) 
their duty, i. e. would soon return to their duty. — Lenocinium. Flat- 
tering words, alluring promises. 

33. Usurpatam .... necessitatem. The donativum to the 
soldiers, and the congiarium to the plebs, had become so common, 
even in time of peace, that it was now, as it were, a fixed law or 
matter of necessity, especially when it was needful to procure their 
assent to any favorite scheme. Cf. Ann. 12, 41 ; Suet. Nero, 7. It 
was peculiarly vexatious to lose this in time of war or revolution, when 
their rulers were peculiarly dependent on their support. 

23 



266 NOTES. 

Paore 

qq 34. Perdidisseut. The subj. denoting the view of the soldiers, 
not the sentiments of the author. 

35. Nocuit. Hurt his cause, ruined his popularity. Cf.nocu- 
isse, 21. 

36, Rigor occurs in Boetticher's list of words belonging to the 
poets of an earlier age. It is not found in Cicero. Cf. Freund sub voce. 

Ch. XIX. — 3T. Inde. Thence or next, sc. they proceeded to the 
senate, of which there is an ellipsis. Tacitus in his conciseness has 
put two clauses into one. Cf. note, A. 5: prima . . . approbavit ; 
also Essay on the Style of Tacitus, p. 18. 
AC) 1. Multi .... obsequio. Al. pointed and read thus: multi vo- 
luntate ; effusius qui noluerant ; medii, ac plurirni, obvio obsequio. 
But medii is a conjectural reading ; and this punctuation destroys the 
proper antithesis, which is usually the best clue to the understanding 
of Tacitus : many out of cordial good-will expressed their approbation 
(favebant understood) freely and fully ; those who were opposed (to the 
nomination), in moderate (ordinary, commonplace) terms; and a still 
greater number (the major part) with ready complaisance, cherishing 
hopes of personal advantage (from Piso's elevation) without regard 
to the public welfare. Mcdie, with the exception of this one passage 
in Tacitus, occurs only in the brazen or post-classical age. Cf. Or. in 
loco and Freund sub voce. 

7. Cum tristia sunt. Highly descriptive of the morbid state of 
the public mind. — Censuerant, had voted, sc. prior to the discussion 
which follows. 

8. Agitatum secreto. By Galba among his friends and coun- 
sellors. 

9. Xum .... proficisceretur. Subj. of the indirect question. 
Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. — Majore praetextu. Ut major legationis dignitas 
esset et auctoritas. Ernesti. So it seems to be explained by the clause 
which follows. Praetextus in this sense (= species, auctoritas) is 
post- Augustan. Cf. Boetticher. 

13. Foeda inconstantia. With shameful inconstancy (want of 
firmness), on the part of Galba. 

14r. Ambitu. Ob ambitum, sive cupiditatem pravam gratia nix- 
am. So it is well explained in the Bipontine edition. Render : in (or 
through) their solicitous desire of going or remaining. 

Ch. XX. — IT. Ubi . . . . causa erat. Al. unde. But that is a 
mere interpolation, and, as Wr. says, an inappropriate one ; for the 
cause of a want of money lay in the extravagant donations of Nero, 
not from them. 

18. Bis .... sestertium. Twenty-two hundred million sester- 
ces. Cf. Roman money, Gr. 327, 6. Summa ilia sane grandiuscula, 
sed digna effusionibus ejus monstri. Lipsius. 

19. Singulos, sc. a Nerone donatos. Rup.— Dccuma . , . relicta. 



book i. 267 

Pagfe 

So Suet. Galb. : non plus decimis concessis. They were allowed to Ar\ 
keep one-tenth of what they had received, and were required to refund 
the remaining nine-tenths. 

20. Super .... erant. Separated by tmesis, after the manner 
of the poets. So 2, 34 : jactis super ancoris. Cf. Virg. Aen. 2, 567 : 
Jamque adeo super unus eram. They scarcely had remaining the 
tenth parts severally (decimae portiones, pi.), still less the nine-tenths. 

23. Instrumenta vitiorunu Gula, balnea, scorta et alia. Rup. 
What a picture of the times ! 

24:. Exactioui, sc. donationum Neroniarum. — Triginta. Suet. 
Galb. 15 : quinquaginta. Fortasse primum triginta fuere, et numerus 
crevit ambitu crescente. Brotier. In numeris libri saepe peccant. Wr. 

25. Ambitu .... onerosum. Burdensome (to the state) because 
of the number of the commissioners and their extensive powers. So 
Wr. and Or. But it accords better with prevailing usage to take am- 
bitu in the sense of solicitation, intrigue, which would be greatly in- 
creased by the number of commissioners. — Hasta. " It was usual to 
set up a spear in auctions, a symbol derived, it is said, from the ancient 
practice of selling under a spear the booty acquired in war." 

26. Sector. " Those are called sectores, who buy property pub- 
lice," i. e. sold by public authority. Gaius, 4, 146. Cf. Smith's Diet. 
of Gr. and Rom. x\ntiq. sub voce. — Actionibus. Actions, i. e. prose- 
cutions, against those who refused to repay the sum demanded of 
them. So Wr., Rnp. and Or., with the Medicean and other best MSS. 
Al. auctionibus. But that makes a mere tautology, for what do hasta 
and sector denote but auctions ? 

2T. Q,uod .... forent. Subj. = because in their view they 
were as poor, etc. Cf. Gr. 266, 3 ; Z. 629.— Donasset Cf. Gr. 266, 
1 ; Z. 547. 

28. Exauctorati. Strictly, released from the military oath, dis- 
missed. But here, in accordance with the prevailing usage of Tacitus 
and the later times of the empire, dismissed in disgrace, cashiered. 

29. Praetorio. The praetorium was primarily the headquarters 
of the Roman general (Prae-itor) : afterwards more especially the 
camp of the praetorian cohorts (imperial guards) at Rome. Here put 
for the prcztorian guards themselves, which consisted originally of 
nine cohorts of a thousand men each (Ann. 4, 5), and subsequently 
(under Vitellius) rose to the number of 16 cohorts, or 16,000 men. 
His. 2, 93. — Antonius .... Antonius. Instead of this repetition, we 
should have had Antonii once before both names, if they had belonged 
to the same family. The repetition shows that they belonged to dif- 
ferent families. 

30. Urbanis coliortibus. Three cohorts, the proprius miles ur- 
bis. Ann. 4, 5. — Vigiliis. Put for cohortibus vigilum, like praetorio 
for praetorianis. The vigiliae consisted of seven cohorts, each having 



268 NOTES. 

Page 

Ar\ charge of two wards of the city, to suppress and guard against fires, 

and more like fire-companies than regular troops. They were institu- 
ted, as were also the praetorian guards, by Augustus. Dio Cass. 55,26. 
32. Omnibus suspectis. Ut Nymphidii sociis Neronive addictis. 
Cf. 5 ; also Suet. Galb. 16. It is implied, that all expected to lose their 
places, as the cashiered tribunes were driven from (pellerentur) theirs, 
not however in a mass, for that the emperor was afraid to do, but in 
detail (singuli, one by one). For this use of pellerentur, cf. 4,44: 
pulsi = banished; and 4, 46: pelli = dismissed, removed from 
office. It is the simple for the compound. 

Ch. XXI. — 36. Laixuria . . . inopia, etc. In apposition with multa. 
As to Otho's inopia, cf. Suet. Oth. 5, where he says that nothing short 
of the imperial power could save him from utter ruin, and whether he 
died in battle or fell a victim to his creditors was immaterial. 
41 1- Liusitaniam .... exspectanduni. He must not wait for the 
honor of a second banishment to Lusilania. Cf. 13. 

3. Xocuisse. Cf. note on nocuit, 18. — Apud. In the estimation 
of. — Scnem. Galba. 

4. Juvenem. Piso. 

5. Occidi. Observe the emphatic position of occidi, and the em- 
phasis of meaning: Otho might even be put to death, not merely 
banished, as before. 

6. I<Tuxa. Impaired. So aevo fluxa murorum, 2, 22 ; or per- 
haps merely weak, nsjluxis cor/joribus, 2, 32. 

T. Nonduin coaluisset. Had not yet become established. The 
reader will observe the use of the inf. in the principal clauses, and the 
subj. in the dependent clauses. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603. 

8. Transitus rerum. Commutationes principum et imperii, 
quum ab uno ad alteram transit. Cf. res translatae, 29. Ernesti. 

11* Acrioris viri. A man of superior energy and courage. 

1 2. Merito. In a manner worthy of himself, i. e. in bold under- 
takings. 

Ch. XXII. — 13. Corpori similis. Compare what Piso says of 
Otho's person below, 30, and places cited there. 

16. Matrimonia. The frequent marriages of Nero. Cf. 13 ; 
Suet. Nero, 28. 35. The same was true cf Caligula and Claudius, the 
former of whom had had four wives and the latter six. Suet. Cal. 24. 
25 ; Claud. 26. 27. — Regnorum libidines. Vicious pleasures attend- 
ant on the supreme power ; distinct both from the adulteries and the 
successive marriages. — Avido agrees with Othoni. 

IT, Q,uiescenti. Antithetic to si auderet = if inactive. — Ut 
aliena. Antithetic to ut sua = not his, but another's. 

18, Mathematicis. Astrologers. 

20. Sperantibus. Aspirants to power ; antith. to potentibus. 

21. Vetabitur, sc. by law. Cf. Ann. 2, 32 ; 12, 52.— Retinebitur, 



book i. 269 

Page 
sc. to gratify curiosity and ambition, which are stronger than law. As j-i 

to the unexpected turn of expression here, cf. Monboddo on Language, 

2, 4, 12. 

22. Secreta. Private apartments, or private counsels. It is 
used in both senses by Tacitus. Cf. notes, A. 22 and 39. — Pessimum 
.... instrumentum. The basest means of bringing about her mar- 
riage to the emperor, Nero. Cf. notes on chap. 13. Burnouf and Oreili 
render : the detestable implement of imperial housewifery. 

23. Ptolemaeus. Cf. Plut. Galb. In Suet. Oth. 4. 6, called by 
mistake Seleucus, which was the name of Vespasian's mathematicus. 

24. Cum .... promisisset. Plup. subj. in narration. Cf. Gr. 
263, R. 2 ; Z. 578. 

25. Postquam .... fides, sc. ei erat. After confidence was re- 
posed in h\mfro?n its turning out, as he had predicted. 

29. Credendi. AI. credi, which is found in all the MSS., and 
which, according to Wr., may depend on cupidine, as sequi does on 
natura in 55 : insita mortalibus natura propere sequi. Yet Wr. himself 
reads credendi (as also Dod. and Or.), and the active seems much 
more appropriate here than the passive. 

Ch. XXIII. — 30. Et sceleris. The criminal act also, i. e. as 
well as the criminal desire {ejus modi voto). Et for etiam is very 
rare in Cicero, but common in Livy and later writers. Cf. Z. 698 ; 
and Kiihner ad Cic. Tusc. Quaes. 1,17, 40. — Instinctor is found only 
in Tacitus and writers still later than he. Cf. Boetticher. 

3 1 . Ad .... transitur states a general principle (as Tacitus al- 
ways loves to do in connection with historical facts) which Murphy 
thus freely translates : " The heart, that has formed the wish and con- 
ceived the project, has seldom any scruple about the means." 

3 2. Repens. Tacitus alone uses this word in the sense of recent. 
Thus in Ann. 6, 7, it stands opposed to vetustate obscurum. So here 
it is explained by the antithetic jampridem. Cf. Or. in loc. and Freund's 
Lex. sub voce. 

33. Successions, sc. by adoption. Cf. 13. — Facinoris. Acts of 
violence, forcible seizure of the throne. 

34. In agmine. Emesti objects, that in agrnine is identical with 
in itinere. But Wr. replies, that Tacitus uses the words together else- 
where, e. g. Ann. 3, 9 : in agmine atque itinere ; and that in general 
agmen denotes the troops on the march, and iter the march itself. 
Here, however, he says in agmine is antithetic to in stationibus, and 
he explains in agmine by ubi copiae essent conjunctae ; and in sta- 
tionibus by ubi singuli milites versarentur. Doderlein says: in itinere, 
dum iter faciunt ; in agmine, dum ambulant, exercendi causa. Oreili 
has still another way of distinguishing the phrases. Render in itinere, 
on the march; in agmine, in the lines; in stationibus, at their 
quarters. 

23* 



270 NOTES. 

Page 

j-j 35. Vocans, appellando, agnoscere, requirere, juvare, mse- 
rendo, all express the means by which Otho courted the favor of the 
soldiers, and all stand in the same logical relation to affectaverat, yet 
the grammatical forms are strangely varied and intermingled by our 
author's fondness for enallage. Cf. notes, G. 16 and 18. — Vocans 
nomine. A means of popularity so much relied on at Rome, that great 
men had a slave called nomenclator, whose business it was to know 
the name of everybody, and communicate it, as occasion required, to 
his master. Cf. Beck. Gall. Exc. 2, sc. 2. — Neroniani comitatus. 
Nero's retinue, who shared his vicious pleasures and applauded his 
musical performances in the Roman theatres, and on his excursions 
through Italy and Greece. Cf. the Augustani instituted for this pur- 
pose. Ann. 14, 15 ; also Ann. 15, 33 ; Suet. Nero, 25. 

36. Requirere aliquid is to inquire after or into anything; ag- 
noscere, to recognise an old acquaintance. Agnoscere refers to persons 
and things previously known, cognoscere to those not previously 
known. 

Aty 1» Atrocius accipiebantur. These words are found together 
only in Tacitus. So also aspere accipere. Ann. 4, 31. Cf. Boetticher. 

3. Soliti, sc. sub Nerone (see note above). 

4. Eniterentur, sc. duce Galba ex Hispania Romam redeunte. 
Rup. To justify this contrast, we must suppose, what T. no where 
asserts in his extant works, that some of Nero's praetorians went to 
meet and escort Galba from Spain. 2?m7erenfz/risfoJlowed by the ace. 
Cf. Gr. 233, R. 1. It is subj. because cum = since, denoting a causal 
connection. Cf. Gr. 263, 5 ; Z. 577. 

Ch. XXIV. — 5. Addiderat. Pluperfect. Cf. note on turbaverant, 
18, supra. 

6. Proximis = amicis. 

T. Novas cupiditates = novarum rerum cupiditatem. 

9. Per specieni convivii. " Under pretext of an allowance for 
an entertainment." Kingsley. — Quotiens .... epularetur. Imperf. 
subj. denoting a repeated action. Cf. Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569. 

10. Cohorti .... agenti. Ill© mos excubiarum inter epulas ori- 
ginem traxit a Claudio Imperatore. Cf. Dio. 60, 3 ; Suet. Claud. 35. 
Wr. 

12. Intendebat. Cf. note on it, 12. — Animosus. Literally, hearty 
(from animus), hence liberal, lavish, one who spares no expense. Cf. 
Freund, sub voce. 

13. Speculatori. A soldier of the body-guard. The word (de- 
rived from specula) properly denotes a watchman, hence used by 
Tacitus for the emperor's lifeguards, who were chosen from the 
praetorian bands. The word, in this sense, is post-Augustan. Cf. 
Boetticher. 

15* Dederit. Compare the perf. subj. here with the imperf. subj. 



BOOK I. 271 

Page 

divideret just above. Divideret denotes repeated and customary ac-^o 
tion : he was in the habit of dividing as often as Galba feasted at the 
house of Otho. Dederit denotes a single, specific act. The distinc- 
tion is the same which always prevails between the imperf. and the 
perf. in the indie. ; but which is not usually observed in the subj., 
where the tenses are less distinctly marked in all languages, and where 
in Latin the perf. is generally used only as a perf. definite, and the 
imperf. is used indiscriminately for completed and incomplete actions. 
The rule for the succession of the tenses would require the imperf. 
subj. in both places here. Cf. Gr. 258 ; Z. 516. But certain historical 
writers, particularly Nepos, Livy and Tacitus, seem to have felt a ne- 
cessity for the same distinction of time in the subj. as in the indicative. 
Cf. Z. 504, Note. This distinction, it is believed, will be found appli- 
cable to all the examples in Tacitus. Thus in 5, 20, the two tenses 
are brought together in the same sentence, both after ut denoting a 
consequence. The perf. invaserit is first used to denote the simple 
historical fact of an attack (like the perf. indefinite of the indie). But 
when he proceeds to speak of the progressive execution of the assault, 
he uses the imperfect (traherent). Compare also admoverit, 1, 66, 
with occurrerent, 1, 63 ; petierit, 3, 51, with aestimarentur, 3, 52, 
&c, &c. — Praefecti. Cornelius Laco, ignavissimus mortalium. C£ 
chap. 6. — Nota, sc. publicae largitiones. 

16. Occulta, sc. secretiora praemia. 

C ii. XXV. — 18. Tesserariuin. Bearer of the watchword, which 
in early times was inscribed on a tessera or square block (from riaaapes), 
and thus passed through the ranks on the eve of battle, as a word by 
which the soldiers might distinguish friends from foes. Thus Silius 
Ital : Taciturn dat tessera signum. Cf. also Virg. Aen. 7, 637. Tcs- 
serarius, in the military sense, is post-Augustan. 

19. Optionem* The optiones were the lieutenants of the centu- 
rions (the suc-centuriones of Livy), so called from the time, when (and 
from the fact that) quern velint, permissum est centurionibns optare — 
previously called accensi, according to Festus sub voce Optio. Cf. 
Smith's Diet, of Antio. under Centurio. Render adjutant, or retain 
the Latin word both here and in tesserarium. — Perductos. Brought 
over, sc. to himself (Otho) ; in partem deteriorem dictum turpi de 
causa, ut feminao a lenonibus perduci dicuntur. Ernesti. Cf. 
Horace: perduci poterit pudica. — Postquam connects cognovit and 
oner at. 

'Z'Z. Manipulares* Common soldiers, for such the tesserarius 
and the optio must be called, rather than officers. The word is derived 
from manus and pleo, since a handful of hay on the top of a pole was 
the original ensign of a Roman maniple. 

25. Primores militum, sc. who had been promoted by Nymphi- 
dius, when he was praefect of the praetorians, cf. 5 ; and whom Galba 



272 NOTr,-, 

Page 

^O would therefore naturally suspect of cherishing- resentment towards 
himself for putting to death their benefactor. Cf. 6. 

26. Vulgns* Antithetic to primores militum ; henco common 
soldiers. 

21. Q.UOS .... accenderet. Subj. in a relative clause after an 
indefinite general expression. 

28. Mutandae militiae. A change of military service, i. e. a 
transfer from the praetorian guards to some less desirable service. The 
met us here is the exact opposite of the spes honor atior is in postcrum 
militiae, 87 ; and is well explained by the language of Suetonius on 
the same subject. Galb. 16. 

Ch. XXVI. — SO. Tabes. The spreading spirit of revolt is here 
likened to a toasting and contagious disease. — Quoque. Also, i. e. 
of the legions, &c, as well as the praetorians. 

33. Integros. Antithetic to malos = the good, lit. entire. So 
our word holy from whole. — Dissimulatio. Concealment, neutrality. 
Well explained by paterentur in 28. It will be observed that parata 
must be taken in a little different sense with dissimulatio and with 
seditiu, since the latter had been got ready, while the former was 
found ready, opportunely existing. Cf. Essay on the Style of Taci- 
tus, p. 16. — Postero idiium dierum. The day after the Ides days, 
sc. of Jan., i. e. Jan. 14. (Gr. 326.) The expression is unusual. It 
seems to be like the Greek veripq d6&v. There can scarcely be a 
doubt as to the day meant. Cf. 27, where the author proceeds to the 
events of Jan. 15. Al. die, a conjectural amendment. Dierum is 
found in the M edicean and all the best MSS.,but is included in brack- 
ets by Or., and entirely omitted by Dod. 

34:. Rapturi fuerint. They would have carried him off, sc. to 
the praetorian camp, to make him emperor. Observe the use of the 
periphrastic form to denote intention. For the subj. perf., cf. note on 
chap. 24 : dederit. — Inceria and castra are both objects of timuis- 
sent. 

36. Cura is abl., denoting the cause why they did not proceed im- 
mediately to action. 

38. Ut quisque . . . oblatus esset. Any one, viho might chance 
to fall in icith the soldiers of the Pannonian or the German army. 
Ut gives an indef. sense to quisque, and is accordingly followed by the 
subj. The plup. is used, because the action expressed by oblatus essei 
is prior to that expressed by destinaretur. 
A*\ !• Igiiorantibus plerisque. Since most of them were not ac- 
quainted with Otho. Abl. of cause limiting destinaretur. — Desiina- 
retur = designaretur salutareturque princeps. Rup. 

3. Apud .... aures. In the hearing of Galha. 

4r. Elusit. Made sport of — ConsiliL Governed by inimicus > 
which is connected by que to ignarus* 



book i. 273 

Page 

5. Afferret. Subj. after quod in place of dummodo id. Cf. Gr. jo 
264, 2 ; Z. 555, == provided he did not himself propose it. 

Ch. XXVII. — 8. Pro aede. Before the temple of Apollo. Aedes 
= a sacred edifice consecrated by the act of man ; templum = a 
temple (or other holy place) sanctioned by the appointment of the 
gods, who made known their will through the augurs. Cf. Smith's 
Diet., word Templum. The temple of Apollo was on the Palatine 
Mount. Cf. Horace : Palatinus Apollo. — Haruspex. The haruspices 
were introduced from Etruria, and were different both from the augu- 
res and the sacerdoies. They were regarded by the educated in the 
age of Cic. as a sort of jugglers (Dio. 2, 24). Claudius attempted 
to revive their credit. Cf. Ann. 11, 15, where Tacitus speaks of a 
collegium haruspicum. 

13. Redemptoribus. Contractors. 

15. Requirentibus. Dat. after finxisset, which is connected by 
cum to innixus .... pergit. — Praedia signifies an estate, whether in 
the city or the country, and usually implies buildings in the city style. 
Here the idea of the buildings is prominent. Hence vetustate sus- 
pecta, of questionable value on account of their age. Hence also 
exploranda, sc. by the architect and the contractors. Suet. (Oth. 6) 
expresses the same thus : quasi venalem domum inspecturus. 

IT. Tiberianam domum. A Tiberio domui Augusti additam in 
occidentali montis Palatini parte. Brotier. — Velabrum. Planities inter 
forum Romanum, et Palatinum, Capitolinum Aventinumque montes. 
Rup. Varro (Ling. Lat. 5, 5) derives the name from vehere ; but Do- 
derlein refers it to &\e?(pap f for it was the locality of the oil merchants. 
— Milliarium aureum. Columna aurea ab Augusto in capite fori 
facta, in quam militares viae omnes ex Italia desinebant. Rup. The 
milestones along the Roman roads were called milliaria. But the 
miles were not reckoned from the milliarium aureum, but from the 
gates of the city. Cf. Smith's Diet. ; and Kingsley in loco : also Fiske's 
Man. P. 1, 52. 

18. Aedem. Al. Aede. But sub here denotes tendency to a 
place near the temple, and requires the ace. Cf. Gr. 235, (2). — Per- 
git. He proceeds {per and rego). It properly belongs only to the 
last stage of Otho's progress. Cf. pergeret, in chap. 18, and note 
ibid. It applies only by zeugma (Gr. 323, 1, (2) ; Z. 775) to the first 
stage, sc. in Velabrum. Pergit is historical present, and hence, like 
the perf. for which it stands, is followed by the pluperf. subj. (finxis- 
set). Cf. Gr. 258, R. 1 ; Z. 501. 

20. Sellae. The sella gestatoria was a sedan, usually covered 
(adoperta, cf. Suet. Aug. 53) ; it was different from the lectica, which 
was a litter or portable bed, and in which the person carried lay in a 
recumbent posture. Cf. Becker's Gallus and Smith's Diet, of Antiq. 
Suetonius (Oth. 6) calls this of Otho a sella muliebris. 



274 NOTES. 

Page 

ao 21. Rapiunt. They seize and bear him away in haste, sc. to 

the camp. Cf. 29 : rapi in castra ; and note, 26 : rapturi. 

22. Gaudiis. Plural to denote the various kinds and sources of 
joy. Al. gladiis. But clamore et gaudiis is a much more natural 
association of ideas, and accords especially with our author's remark- 
able fondness for pairs of words of kindred signification. Cf. notes, 
1, 64 ; 3, 20. See also clamore et gaudio in 2, 70. 

23. Animum . . . sumpturi. Intending to make up their minds 
(take sides) according to the result. 

Ch. XXVIII. — 24r. Stationem .... agebat. A cohort of infantry 
and a company of horse kept guard at each gate of a Roman camp. 
Julius Martialis was commander of this guard at the camp of the prae- 
torians. Rup. 

25. Tribumis. This word originally denoted the head of a tribus 
(from ties, three, the original number of tribes at Rome). Cf. Schmitz's 
His. Rom. p. 60. It was afterwards applied to several classes of offi- 
cers, such as tribunes of the commons and tribunes of the soldiers with 
consular power. Here it denotes one of the Tribuni Militares, of 
whom there were at this time six in each legion, whoso duty it was to 
maintain order, keep guard, inspect outposts, &c. Cf. Smith's Diet. 
Tribunus. — Is. Such, correlative to ut, which is accordingly followed 
by the subj. denoting result. — Magnitudine = propter magnitudinem. 
It is assigned as one of two possible reasons for the conduct of Martialis, 
and limits rather the following sentiment than any particular word == 
owing to the greatness of the unexpected crime. So Wr. and Rup. 
Orelli and Doderlein supply perculsus or some such idea from metuens 
by zeugma = distracted by the greatness, etc., or fearing, etc. 
Metuens assigns the other reason and governs castra as well as exi- 
tium. 

28. Dubiis et honestis. To measures of doubtful issue, though 
in themselves virtuous and honorable. The author's analysis of the 
habitus animorum of the masses here cannot but be admired ; and it 
is capable of a wide application. 

Ch. XXIX. — 31. Sacris intentus. Cf. 27. — Fatigabat, sc. pre- 
cious votisque = was importuning. 

3 2. Alieni jam. Already another's, i.e. Otho's. 

33. Incertum is neuter gender agreeing with a clause. — Quern 
agrees with senatorem : a senator, it was uncertain what one. — Ra- 
peretur. Borne away hastily. Cf. note, 5, 22 : prono .... rapti. 
Subj. in oratio obliqua. 

34. Ex .... urbe, sc. concurrunt ad Galbam. — Ut . . . . fuerat. 
All those who had fallen in with Otho on his way to the camp. Cf 
ut quisque, 26. — Formidine augentes. Through fear exaggerating 
(sc. verum) the real danger. Al. formidinem. But formidine in the 
Medicean MS., Dod., Or., &c. Cf. also 42: finxit formidine. 



BOOK I. 2^5 

Page 

35. Q,uidam minora. Sub. dicentes implied in augentes. Zeug-4 o 
ma. — Ne turn quidem. Not even in such a crisis. Z. 801. 

36. Igitur. Rarely placed first in Cic. Cf. Z. 357 ; and Kiihner's 
Cic. Tusc. Qu. 1, 6, 11. Usually first in T., but sometimes in tho 
second place. Cf. note on enim, G. 1. 

38. Majoribus remediis, i, e. temporibus, quae majus remedium 
postularent. Ernesti. 

1. Pro gradibus. From the steps. So pro tribunali, from the 44 
tribunal ; pro rostris, from the rostrum ; pro muris, from the walls ; 
pro vallo, from the rampart, &c. Cf. Z. 311. — Domus = palatii. Cf. 

27 : Tiberianam domum, 

2. Sextus dies. Counting the day of his adoption as the first (as 
the Romans and also the Greeks and Hebrews always reckoned), and 
the present as the sixth. Leaving out both, there were but four days 
intervening. Cf. 19 : quatriduo. On the same principle we may 
reconcile the 8 days of Luke, 9, 28, with the 6 days of Mat. 17, 1, 
and Mark, 9, 2. In the same way also we make out the 3 days of 
our Lord's sepulture. 

4. Q,uo .... fato. Al. quo .... fatum, which is the reading of 
most of the MSS. The Medicean has fata. I have chosen fa to with 
Dod. and Or., because it makes the sense so much more spirited: with 
what fortune to our family or the state depends on your decision 
(literally, has been placed in your hands). 

5. Non quia .... paveam. Cf. note, 15 : non quia .... non. 
Doleo is to be supplied before quia .... paveam from the antithesis. 
— Meo nomine. On my own account = for myself Antithetic to 
patris et senatus. Cf. note on feminarum nomine, G. 8. 

6. Ut qui .... discam. Since I am such a person .... that I 
may learn. Cf. Gr. 264, 8 ; Z. 565, N. 1 ; 726. — Adversas . . . expertus* 
Cf. note on fortunam adversam, 15, supra. 

T, Cum maxime = ut cum maxime (cf. G. 10, note) : may learn, 
as when men learn most, i. e. may learn most effectually. The cum 
adds emphasis to maxime. Cf. Freund sub quum. 

8. Patris. Sub. sed before it, often omitted by T. Cf. Essay on 
the Style of Tacitus, p. 13. 

10. Proximi motus. When Galba was made emperor. 

11. Iucruentam urbem. The only sense in which this is true, 
is, that no blood of citizens was shed in the city. Thousands of sol- 
diers were slain as he was entering the city. Cf. chap. 6. 

1 2. Ut ne ... . esset. That not even after Galba (i. e. at the 
close of his reign) there should be room for (civil) war. Ne quidem 
marks the antith. between post G alb am and proximi motus. Cf. Gr. 
279, 3 : quidem and quoque ; Z. 801. 

Ch. XXX. — 15. Relatu. A word now found only in Tacitus. Or. 
IT. Imperatoris, sc. Nero. Cf. 13. — Ageret. When he was 



276 notes. 

IV acting the part, by which it is implied, that his friendship for Nero- 
was a mere pretence. Cf. Ann. 1, 4 : specie secessus, exsulern egerit, 
said of the false Tiberius.— Habitu .... imperium. Suetonius (Oth, 
12) describes Otho as a man of small stature, ill-set on his feet, with 
erooked legs, but of almost feminine neatness. Habitu here means 
person, as in 14 and 17, where see notes. 

18. Illo denotes notoriety. Gr. 207, R. 24; Z. 701.— Mereretur 
est optativus Graecorum = should he gain ? Wr. Such questions- 
asked by the subj. imply a negative answer. Cf. Z. 530. 

19. Specie. Al. speciem. But compare Plin. Ep. 2, 6: ne tibi 
luxuria specie frugalitatis imponat.— Imponit. Deceives, or imposes 
upon.-^-Iste denotes contempt. Gr. 207, R. 25 } Z. 701, = that 
wretch, or fellow. 

22. Sit. May be = though it may be, yet the shame, etc. 
26. Vestra. For the case and construction of this word, see Gr. 
219, R. 2- also Z. 449. 

29. Nero .... destituit. Nero fled from his palace beforo he 
was deserted by his palace-guard. The same cohort was now on duty. 

30. Minus .... transfugae. For the construction of transfugac, 
c£ Gr. 256, R. G. 

33. Commune .... facitis, i. e. become partakers in the guilt. 

34. Ad nos .... pertinebunt. Though the fatal issue of this 
criminal rebellion will fall upon us, yet to you will remain the ca- 
lamitous consequences of the civil tears that must ensue. 

3T. Perindc. AL proinde. But proinde, therefore, has no force ; 
and though it rests on rather better MS. authority, yet the two words 
are perpetually confounded in the MSS. Perinde is correL to quam 
= as much as. — Donativum. Al. donativo plus, for which reading, 
it is argued, that Fiso must offer more than Otho, or the offer would 
be manifestly unavailing. So Wr. and Rup. But Bach replies with 
great truth and force, that a mind like Piso's could not conceive that 
the soldiers would not prefer a reward pro fide to an equal reward pro 
facinore* Dod, and Or. read donativom. This entire speech is ad- 
mirably suited to the character of Piso, as the speech of Galba is to 
his. Review the character of Piso, as briefly sketched in 14 and 15, 
and acted out in 17. Then look at the calm dignity, the modesty and 
yet the conscious worth, the scorn of viee and the contempt for all the 
low arts of gaining favor with the rabble, which pervade this speech, 
and you cannot but discern and admire its fitness. 
45 Gh. XXXI. — 1. Dilapsis* Having stolen away, one by one- 
They were bribed by Otho. Cf. 27. — Cetera. The rest, sc. praeter 
speculatores. 

2« Concianaiitem. The speaker, sc. Piso. Concio = 1. An as- 
sembly. 2. An address before it. — Ut .... evenit is to be taken with 
forte et nullo .... consilio — it is common in times of commotion for 



BOOK I. 277 

Paffe 

men to act as chance directs and without plan. Quam is omitted in ax 
the MSS., and the reading is doubtful m forte et nullo. Observe the 
conciseness of adhuc : no plan as yet, sc. matured. 

5. Electos Illyrici exercitus. Cf. chap. 6. Cetera had been 
an officer in that army. Ann. 15, 25. — Vipsania porticu. A portico 
built by Vipsanius Agrippa in the field of Mars. Milites, qui extra 
ordinem in urbe erant, ag-ere plerumque solebant in porticibus aut 
templis. Lipsius. — Tendentes, sc. stationem or excubias = stationed. 

6. Primipilaribus, sc. centurionibus. A post-Augustan word. 
The first centurion of the first maniple of the triarii was called at 
different times, primipilaris, or primipilus, or primi pili centurio. 
Cf. Liv. 2, 27. He was intrusted with the care of the eagle, and had 
the right to attend the councils of the general. 

7. Libertatis atrio. Where they were quartered, as the Illyrianfl 
were in the Vipsanian portico. The word atrium denotes, 1. The open 
area, surrounded by a colonnade, in the private houses of the Romans. 
2. A class of public buildings so called from their general resemblance 
in construction to the atrium of a private house, sometimes standing 
by themselves, but more frequently attached to the front of a temple 
or some other edifice. The atrium Libert a tis here meant, was at- 
tached to the Aedes Libertatis on the Aventine. Cf. Smith's Diet, of 
Gr. and Rom. Antiq., word Atrium. 

8. Diffidebat, sc. Piso. Al. diffidebatur, but without MS. authority. 

9. Trucidaverat Galba. Cf. note on chap. 6. 

11. Si ... . flecteretur. Ang. to see if it might be turned 
aside. It denotes both purpose and contingency, and of course requires 
the subj. So the Greek et, fnrws. This use of si is more frequent in 
T. than in other Latin authors. 

1 2. Et necdum. The use of necdum after et is peculiar to the 
later Latin. Or. A writer of the Augustan age would have omitted 
the et. Cf. Virg. Aen. 11, 70. Dod. speaks of the word itself as out 
of date. Essay, p. 21. But see examples in Freund, from Cicero as 
well as Virgil. 

14. Non ordine militiae. The common explanation of this 
passage supplies tribunus factus fuerat : i( Because he had been ir- 
regularly promoted to the tribuneship of the praetorian guards." So 
Brotier, Kingsley and many others. But Wr. thinks such an ellipsis 
inadmissible, and supplies suspectus from the ant. clause : Because he 
was not merely suspected, like Subrius and Cetrius, on account, of 
his rank and title as tribune (ordine = ob ordinem), but as a friend 
of Galba, he icas loyal to his prince and thus still more an object of 
suspicion. 

IT. Ingestis pilis. Al. infestis, with nearly equal authority and 
in essentially the same sense. 

18. Germauica vexilla. The word vexillum, whose meaning, 

24 



278 NOTES. 

Pagu 

jKas also that of the corresponding word vexillarii t has been much dis- 
puted, seems to have denoted, 1. The standard of the cavalry (as 
signum was the standard of the smaller divisions of the infantry, and 
aquila of the whole legion). 2. The standard of a detachment of 
troops, drafted and dispatched for a specific purpose. 3. The standard 
of a body of 600 veterans, attacked (but not belonging) to each legion, 
released from the military oath and free from ordinary duty, but re- 
tained sub vexillo to render their assistance in the more severe battles, 
hence technically called vexillarii. In each of these three senses, the 
vexillum often stands for the troops that served under it. Here the 
word is used in the second sense = the German vexillarii. Cf. 6, 
where these same troops are called numeri e Germania, and are said 
to have been electos praemissosque ad bcllum in Albanos. For a full 
discussion of this subject, see Ruperti's note on vexilla, A. 18. See 
also Smith's Diet, of Antiq., on Roman Army. 

19. Q,uod .... refovebat. Quod here gives a reason for a state 
of mind ; quia, just above, for an outward act. The reason in both 
cases is an objective fact. Cf. note, 2, 19 : quod . . . legisset. Quando, 
quundoquidrm and siqi/idrm, introduce only subjective reasons ; and 
quouiam a motive. Cf. Z. 346. Quia and quoniam are usually fol- 
lowed by the indie, in Tacitus ; quod and quando by the indie, or the 
subj., according to the design of the author. Quandoquidem and siqui- 
dem seldom occur, the simple conjunctions being preferred by the author. 

20. Indc rursus, sc. revocatos, which is implied in rursus accord- 
ing to the figure prcegnantia. Cf. Essay, pp. 16. 17. 

Ck. XXXII. — 22. Univcrsa = all united, all without exception. 
Cf. Ramshorn and Leverett on the difference between universus, om- 
nis, totus and cunctus. 

24:. Ut si. Between these words there is an ellipsis of poscerent. 
So there is an ellipsis in our as if. 

25. Judicium .... Veritas. Not synonyms, as Ernesti supposed 
them to be. Judicium = sober reason, Veritas = sincerity. — Quippe 
.... postulaturis. There is more or less of irony and sarcasm in 
quippe (= quia-pe) here; forsooth {= for -true) they were about to 
demand at a later hour of the same day the opposite with equal earn- 
estness. A graphic picture of the corrupt rabble under the Roman 
emperors. 

26. Tradito more limits adulabantur or some such verb implied 
in adulandi, or a simple verb of doing may be supplied. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

SO. Opponenda, sc. against the rebels. — Servitia. Abstract for 
concrete. 

31. Daret, sc. Galba. It is the subj. of the oratio obliqua, and 
would have been expressed by the imperative in the direct address to 
Galba. Cf. Z. 603, (c) ; Arnold's Pr. Intr. 460. It depends, like mo- 
nendum, opponenda, etc., on censebat. 



BOOK I. 279 

Pa^e 

32. Valescere is present to denote a general principle. The word ax 
is poetical. Cf. Boetticher. 

33. Ultro. Wr. renders : moreover; Or.: at pleasure. 

34:. Regressus is genitive after facultatem repeated from the fore- 
going clause. — Si poeniteat. Sub], of the dependent clause in oratio 
obliqua. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603. Observe the use of the present here, 
where we must use the imperf., and where the general rule would re- 
quire the imperf. (as depending on censebat). The Latin admits of 
either in the same sentence and in the same sense. Cf. Arnold's Pr. 
Intr. 455. 468. We must render it by the imperf. : if he regretted, or 
should regret. We can use the present only with the second person : 
if you regret. So si ratio sit : if there was or should be occasion. 

Ch. XXXIII.— 35. Ceteris. The rest, i. e. all but T. Vinius. 

3T. Ignaros. Unacquainted with him. Cf. 26 : ignorantibus. 

38. Cunctatione = hesitation, lit. waiting to collect every thing 
(from cunctus). — Segnitia = sloth. — Terentium agrees with nostrum, 
sc. Galbianorum, understood. — Imitari principe?n, i. e. to act his part 
as priuceps. 

1. Discat. Subj. because a dependent clause in the oratio obliqua. 46 

2. Capitolium. adeat, sc. de more, ut auspicaturus imperium et 
grates diis acturus sacrificet. Ernesti. Cf. 47 : in capitolium vectus. 
For the pres. subj. cf. note, 32 : si poeniteat. So also elanguescat 
and necesse sit just below. 

3. Duna .... cludit. The ind., contrary to the rule, to represent 
the shutting up more as a matter of fact and less as a contingency. 
Cf. Gr. 266, R. 5 ; Z. 575. — Egregius . . . fortibus. Spoken ironically. 

4. Tenus. Properly a noun in the ace. of limit or measure, mean- 
ing as to extent. Hence it follows (not is followed by) the gen. and 
the abl. Cf. Freund sub voce. Here it seems to be used pretty much 
as in the phrases verbo tenus, nomine tenus, hactenus, etc., in the 
sense of merely : by the gate and threshold merely, not by arms, as 
truly brave men would do. Cf. Dod. in loc. Observe the repetition 
of kindred words (janua and limine) for emphasis. Cf. note, 27 : 
gaudiis, and places there cited. — Nimirum also denotes irony. — Tole- 
raturus. Al. toleraturos. 

5. Praeclarum, etc. Said in derision of Vinius' proposal: oppo- 
nenda servitia, 33. 

6. Q,uae .... valet. The indie, here, contrary to the rule (Gr. 
266, 2; Z. 603), affirms the sentiment absolutely and independently 
of the mere opinion of the speaker. 

7. Vel si. Even if. 

lO. Stimulante, sc. Laconem contra Vinium. — Odii, sc. in Vini- 
um. Cf. 13. 

Ch. XXXIV. — 1 2. Speciosiora. Et probabiliora et honestiora. 
Ruperti. 



280 NOTES. 

Pa»e 

ac 13. Castra, sc. praetoriana. — Juvenis. Dod. places a comma af- 
ter juvenis, thus making his youth a separate reason for Piso's being 
sent before Galba, who, if not too old to meet the danger, was thought 
less likely to win favor. 

14. Nomine and favore are abl. of quality. — Re centi favor e refers 
to his late adoption, i. e. elevation to imperial favor. 

15. Irati. The enemies of Vinius, particularly Laco and Icelus, 
who had now gained the ascendency in Galba's counsels. Vinius. had 
advised not to go to the camp ; Galba not only went, but was pre- 
ceded by one who was thought or hoped to be the personal enemy of 
Vinius. — Facilius .... creditor. And the more credible account of 
the two is, that he was really infensus Vinio. 

IT. Ut .... mendaciis, sc. fieri solet, i. e. great lies are apt to gain 
strength, till at length men are ready to swear to their personal know- 
ledge of their truth. 

18. Credula fama. Crcdula is usually taken in a passive 
sense, here = readily believed, easily credited. So Ernesti, Boetti- 
cher, Dod. and others ; though Ernesti suggests also the explanation 
adopted by Roth., Wr., Rup. and Or., viz. that fama is put poetically 
for the men who spread and believed the report. Then credula may 
be taken in its ordinary sense, as in 12 : credulum senem. Fama is 
not unfrequently personified by T. Cf. A. 9 ; Ann. 4, 11. Render: 
Rumor being credulous where men delight in reports and are indif- 
ferent about their truth. 

21. Vulgaverint. Al. vulgaverant. The reading we have given 
follows the Mcdicean MS. and accords with the general rule for de- 
pendent clauses in the oratio obliqua. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603. 

Cii. XXXV. — 23. In plausus, sc. ruere, or pr or ump ere implied in 
mere by zeugma : break forth into shouts of applause. Cf. Essay on 
the Style of Tacitus, p. 15. — Equitum .... senatorum. Who from 
their rank might have been expected to be more cautious. Equites 
moans, 1. Horsemen, or cavalry. 2. Knights, or men of the equestrian 
order ; for in the early history of Rome men of rank only served in 
the cavalry, while the p!ebs made up the infantry. So in Hor. de Ar. 
Poet. : quibus est equus = equestres. 

25. Intus. Only the equites and senatorcs rushed in; the pop u- 
lus and plebs applauded immoderately without. For the distinction 
between populus and plebs, cf. note, A. 43 : vulgus et populus. 

27. L/inguae ferocis. Al. linguae feroces, linguis feroces. All 
the MSS. but one have linguae ferocis, which is gen. of quality, and 
is the more likely to be the true reading, because it is of different con- 
struction from nimii verbis. Cf. note, G. 16. 18, and Essay, p. 23. 

28. Inopia veri = inopia certorum nuntiorum. So veri is ex- 
plained by the antithetic errantium. Inopia is not, therefore, as Rup. 
and others say, = ignorantia. Galba was overcome by the entire 






BOOK I. 281 

Paffe 

want of true accounts and the agreement of those who brought false ap 
reports. 

29. Xeque aetate neque corpore. For he was kglI yipwv Kal 
acBevm ra vevpa. Xiphil. 64, 3. (The reference is to the abridgment 
of Dion Cassius by Xiphilinus, which alone is preserved in most of 
this period.) 

30. Sistens = resistens, obsistens, as in Virg. Aen. 11, 240. Cf. 
Essay, p. 10. Vid. Dod. in loc. Render: since he was neither of 
suitable age nor bodily strength to withstand the now in-rushing 
multitude. — Sella. Cf. note, 27. The sella here, however, appears 
to have been uncovered (cf. 41), perhaps to suit the military character 
and taste of Galba. — Levaretur. The subj. after donee , where a. fact 
and not a mere conception or purpose is expressed. This is contrary 
to the rule. Cf. note, 13 : donee . . . . amoliretur. But it is frequent 
with Tacitus, who comparatively seldom uses the indie, after donee, 
until, and then without any apparent difference of meaning. Cf. Gr. 
263, 4; Z. 575. It is worthy of remark, however, that Tacitus uses 
the subj. after donee only where he has occasion for the imperfect. 
Where the sense requires the perfect, he uses the indie. The only 
exception to this usage, so far as I have observed, is in 1,9: donee 
.... aderat. Donee, so long as, is always followed by the indicative. 
Cf. 37 : donee .... dubitabitur. 

33. Q,uis jussit. " My oath and my duty," replied the soldier. 
See Plut. Galb. 19. But T. wishing to illustrate only the character 
of Galba, omits the reply. 

Ch. XXXVI. — 3T. Agmine et corporious. Hendiadys for agmine 
facto suis corporibus. Bach. The force of circumdarent reaches 
back to this clause : not content with surrounding him by their own 
persons in a body. Vid. Or. and Duebner in loco. On the mode and 
tense of circumdarent, cf. note, chap. 24 : dederit. 

38. Suggestu = tribunali, i. e. at the headquarters of the com- 
mander, where the statue of the emperor was always placed. Manual, 
P. 3, 296. (The reference is to Eschenburg's Manual of Classical 
Literature : Fiske's Edition.) 

1« Signa .... vexillis. The distinction intended between thesej^ 
words in this place is not clear. It may be that of their original appli- 
cation, viz. signa referring to the infantry, and vexilla to the cavalry. 
More probably, however, vexillis is used in the same sense as in 31, 
where see note. Then signa would denote the standards of the co- 
horts which made up the legions (Hispana and Classica), and vexilla 
those of the electi Germanici Britannici et lllyrici excrcitus. Cf. 6. 

3. Caveri. Observe the passive form: should be watched with a 
jealous eye. — Insuper. Furthermore, i. c. besides precluding the near 
approach of the tribunes and centurions, they bade each other beware 
furthermore of all their officers. 

24* 



282 NOTES. 

Page 

Art 4. Tanquam in ... . plebe, i. e. the formal and heartless adula- 
tion of the multitude (cf. 32) was discordant (variii) and spiritless 
(segni = se-igni) in comparison with the unanimous and impassioned 
zeal of the soldiers, which expressed itself not more in words than in 
actions. Dod. supplies, with this clause, adulabantur from the noun 
adulatione by brachylogy. Cf. Essay, p. 15. 

6. Affluentium = 'pouring in. Cf. A. 29 : affluebat. 

T. Complecti armis denotes a military embrace with shield and 
sword in hand, armis being = armatis brachiis. Cf. Virg. Aen. 12, 
433. — Juxta, sc. Othonem. — Praeire sacramentum. Administer the 
oath, lit. go over it before them, as they pour in successively. The 
officer pronounced the words of the military oath, and the soldier re- 
peated the words after him. Hence the former was said praeire sa- 
cramentum, and the latter jurare in verba, ejus. In a regular ad- 
ministration of the oath, only one of tho soldiers repeated the words, 
and the others swore to the same that he had done before them. In 
the present instance, the soldiers expressed their zeal by volunteering 
to administer it to each other. Observe the asyndeton and the series 
of infinitives, indicative of rapidity. Cf. note, A. 37 : grande .... 
spectarjilum. 

9. Protendens nianus. Properly the attitude of supplication, 
here of respect and reverence. — Vulgum. Al. vulgus, one MS. The 
rest vulgum, which T. probably used after the example of Virgil. So 
Wr. and Or. — Jacere oscula. Throw kisses, i. e. kiss his hand with 
an accompanying motion of the hand towards him for whom the kiss 
was intended. The expression is poetical. 

10. Et omnia, sc. facere. Cf. Essay on the Style of T., p. 14. 
13. Pro vallo. Cf. pro gradibus, 29, note. 

Ch. XXXVII. — 14:. Ctuis .... processerim. In what character 
I appear before you, lit. may have appeared. Subj. to soften the ex- 
pression. Cf. Gr. 260, R. 4 ; Z. 527. 

IT. Vestrum .... nomen. Your title also, as well as mine: 
for if I am emperor, you are loyal soldiers ; if I am an enemy, you aro 
rebels. An exordium fit for the prince of demagogues : and so is the 
whole speech. — Donee dubitabitur. Cf. note, 35, supra. 

18. Habeatis. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265; Z. 552. 

19. Auditisne. Do you not hear, sc. from the forum, in the dis- 
sono clamore caedem Othonis poscentium, chap. 32, which could be 
heard in the praBtorian camp, though situated without the walls of the 
city. So in chap. 39, we read, vice versa, of cries reaching the city 
from the camp. Vid. Or. in loc. — Poena is properly a pecuniary pen- 
alty (Gr. now,), supplicium, capital punishment (sub and plico, bend- 
ing under the axe of the executioner). The words are well chosen 
and well applied here ; Otho means to imply, with the falsehood as 
well as the tact of a demagogue, that a severer punishment awaits 



book i. 283 

Page 

them than him. He exasperates them by arraying before their imagi-j^ 
nation the terrors of a public execution. — Postulentur. Subj. imply- 
ing the fact, instead of directly asserting it. Render by the ind. : are 
demanded. 

22. Promisit. Given promise, furnished an example. The 
reader will notice the train of bloody and dismal words that follow : 
trucidaverit, horror, feralem, etc. Feralis is a poetical word. Cf. 
Boetticher's Lex. Tac. — Ut qui .... trucidaverit. Cf. note, 29: ut 
qui . . . discam. Ut qui is not used by Cic, but utpote qui. Cf. Z. 565. 

24. Solam victoriam. False. Cf. Suet. Galb. 6-8. 

25. Decumari. The practice of decimation, i. e. punishing every 
tenth man of an offending body of soldiers, unfrequent in the early 
history of Rome, became not uncommon in the civil wars and under 
the empire. The victims were drawn by lot. Ann. 3, 21. For the 
fact here referred to, cf. Suet. Galb. 12 ; and note, 6 : trucidatis .... 
militum. 

26. In fidem acceperat. Venire in fidem alicujus, is to surren- 
der to his discretion, to submit to his will, and accipere in fidem is to 
receive such submission. See a parallel passage, Ann. 12, 27. 

3T. Polycliti . . . . Aegiali. Polyclitus and Vatinius were fa- 
vorite freedmen of Nero, who rose to wealth and honor during his 
reign, and whose very names were ever after synonymous with ra- 
pacity and oppression, as T. says, 2, 95 : Vetera odiorum nomina. 
Polyclitus is mentioned, Ann. 14, 39 ; Vatinius, 15, 34. The name of 
Aegialus does not occur elsewhere, for which reason, as well as from 
the obscurity of the Medicean MS., much dispute has arisen as to the 
reading. The text is that of Or. and Dod. Al. Helii, and Helii et 
Haloti. 

38. Paraverunt. As if they had enriched themselves by their 
industry and economy, but Icelus by robbery {rapuit). Al. perierunt: 
rapientes being supplied by brachylogy from rapuit. Cf. Essay, p. 15. 

1. Si ipse imperasset. If he had been emperor himself, instead y^Q 
of being prime-minister. In that case, Otho means to imply, Vinius 
would have felt some interest in us as his subjects. But now he has 

us in his power as completely as if we had been his own property, 
and yet holds us in no estimation as the property of another. 

2. Una ilia domus. The single family, i. e. property of Vinius. 
As to the wealth of Vinius, vid. again chap. 48. 

3. Exprobratur, sc. as if an unreasonable demand. Dod. 
Ch. XXXVIII.— 6. Ab exsilio. Cf. 21 and 48. 

1. Notabili tempestate. Cf. 18. 

8. Adversantes. Al. aversantes. Cf. note, 1 : adverseris. — Idem, 
sc. the same with the gods, i. e. they too are opposed to it. Accord- 
ingly he adds : vestra virtus, etc., your valor alone is further requi- 
red, lit. waited for. 



284 NOTES. 

Page 

jo 13. Nee .... togata. And the single, unarmed cohort does not, 
etc. The cohort on guard was not fully armed, and wore the toga or 
dress of citizens, not the sagum of the regular military service. Lipsius. 

15. Q,uis .... imputet, i. e. quis pro me acrius contendendo effi- 
ciat, ut ei plus debeam. Ernesti. Cf. note, G. 21. Used in this sense 
by poets and later Latin authors. Render: who can lay me antler 
the greatest obligation. Subj. in the indirect question. Cf. Gr. 265 ; 
Z. 552. 

16. Cunctationis. So Rup. and Or. from the Medicean MS. Cf. 
Liv. 3, 46 : locum seditionis quaerere. Al. cunctationi. 

IT. Aperire. Al. aperiri, which is a needless conjecture. He 
then ordered them to open the arsenal. Many of these troops, like 
the cohort at the palace-gate, were not fully armed, i. e. had no de- 
fensive armor, galeis scntisqne, which were allowed to the praetorian 
cohorts only at the command of the preefect or tribune. Lipsius. Cf. 
note on cohors togata. 

1 8. Ut .... distingueretur. This clause depends on more et 
ordine, and denotes the nature or the object of that military custom. 
The legionary troops were armed with pila, the praetorians with lan- 
ceae, etc. Ritter. 

20. Miscentur . . . scutisque. Praetorian and legionary troops 
seize indiscriminately on shields and helmets that belong to auxili- 
aries. Auxiliaribus agrees with galeis scutisque. Galea and scu- 
tum are among the fete military terms which have a common ety- 
mology in the Greek and the Latin ; whereas the names of common 
things in agriculture and the arts of peace almost all have a common 
origin in the two languages, the Pelasgi, who contributed the common 
element, being an agricultural and pacific people. Cf. Niebuhr's His. 
of Rome : also Arnold, chap. 2 ; Keightley, chap. 1 ; and Schmitz, 
chap. 1. 

Ch. XXXIX. — 24. Exterritus. Frightened out of his purpose 
of entering the camp. 

25. In urbem usque. The praetorian camp was without tho 
city, at the Viminal gate. Rup. Cf. note, 37 : auditisne. — Egressum 
interim. Who had gone forth from the palace (cf. 35) in the mean 
time, i. e. the interval between Piso's egress (34) and the events here 
described. 

26. Assecutus erat. Had come up to, fallen in with. 
2T. Marius Celsus. Cf. 31. 

28. Redire, sc. Galbam et Pisonem. — Plerique. Many ; a sense 
peculiar, though not confined to T. Cf. note, A. 1. 

29. Plures. More.—Contradicerent. Subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 5, R. 
2 ; Z. 578. 

33. Ad postremum vel odio. A conjectural reading, suggested 
by Rhenanus and adopted by most editors, not because it satisfies, but 



book i. 285 

Page 

because they can think of nothing better. Render: or finally out of AG 
personal enmity at least. 

36, Diffugia. Vocabnlum a Tacito effictum, ut alia. Rup. The 
word, though new, is highiy expressive of the rapid dispersion of 
Galba's nearest followers. 

3 7. Primo alacres. Cf. 35: in periculo non ausurus, etc. 

Ch. XL. — 2. Basilicis. Strictly an adj., aula or porticus being ^Q 
understood. The name was derived from the arod fiaoi\eios of Athens, 
where the second arehon, apxw Paot'Xevs, administered justice. The 
Roman basilica served both as a court of justice and an exchange. 
There were many of them built around the forum, some of great ex- 
tent and splendor. The earlier ones were surrounded only by an open 
peristyle of columns. The later were enclosed by a wall, and the col- 
umns were confined to the interior. These were, in many instances, 
converted at length into Christian churches ; and other churches built 
after the same model were called basilicae. Cf. Smith's Diet, of Antiq., 
Basilica; also note on Libertatis atrio, 31. 

5. Q,uale .... silentiura est. Nam magna ira silet et ardet, 
levis clamat et tumultuatur. Brotier. Burnouf refers to a very similar 
passage in Xenophoirs Agesilaus, 2, which, he thinks, Tacitus may 
have had in mind. 

T. Occupare. Praevenire et sic impedire. Rup. 

8. Vologesen .... Pacorum. Kings of the Parthians. Cf. Ann. 
12, 14; 13,9; 15, 14.24, et al. ; His. 5,9; G. 37.— Arsacidae was 
a common appellation of the Parthian kings, from Arsaces the founder 
of the state. Cf. note, G. 37 : Arsacis. 

12. Imminentium. Overhanging the forum where these scenes 
were enacted, and which was in a great measure surrounded by tem- v 
pies and porticoes. Cf. 3, 71 : imminentia foro templa. — Prior es. 
The example of former emperors, w T ho had punished such crimes. — 
Futuri. The fear of future emperors, who would be sure to follow 
the precedent. 

14:. Q,uisquis successit. For no sovereign could trust subjects 
who had proved so unfaithful. Cf. chap. 44, at the close. 

Ch. XLI. — 15. Vexillarius. Here a standard -bearer. For 
another sense of the word, see note on vexilla, 31. — Comitatae Gal- 
bam cohortis. The same cohort, quae in palatio stationem agebat, 
chap. 29. Al. Galbae. 

IT. Dereptam. Torn ojf from his standard. 

20. Curtii lacum. A spot in the middle of the Roman forum, so 
called from the legend of M. Curtius, who leaped into the yawning 
chasm and it closed upon him. Cf. note, 3, 69 : lacum Fundani. 

25. Agerent ac ferirent = age, fieri, a formula of Latin speech. 
The imperatives of the oratio recta become the subjunctives in the 



2 86 NOTES. 

Pag-e 

JQ oratio obliqua. Z. 603. Cf. the same narrative, Suet. Galb. 20 ; Plut. 
Galb. 27. 

2T. Evocatuni. A veteran soldier. The evocati derived their 
name from their being called out into the field again by the special 
invitation of the general, after they had served out their time. 

29* Hausisse. This word properly denotes the drawing out of 
the blood, but here the piercing of the juguhnn, impresso gladio, 
with the point of his sword. Render : cut his throat. 

30. Tegebatur, sc. thorace. Cf. chap. 35. 

31. Feritate et saevitia. Synonyms brought together for em- 
phasis = brutal cruelty {feritate from fer us. Gr. &>)p). 

3 2. Adjecta. Superadded, after the mortal wound. 

Ch. XLIL— 33. Q,uo et ipso. Et = also, i. e. as well as Galba. 

31. Consumpserit. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 : Z. 552. 

35. Vt oceideretur. Cf. Gr. 273, 2 ; Z. 615. 

36. Conscientia. Al. conscientiam, which is the easier reading. 
But the MSS. have consrimtia. 

3T. Confessus est lias quod for its object, thus: This he either 
asserted falsely through fear of losing his life, or stated truly by 
virtue of his participation in the conspiracy. So Wr. and Dod. — 
Hue. To the latter. — Ut . . . .fuerit. That he may have been. A 
softened form of the ind., he was. 

38. Causa erat. Cf. 6: senem .... destruebant. 
gQ 1. Mox. Antithetic to pri mo ictu; hence = alio ictu. 

2. In utrumque latus. Li is omitted in some editions, but found 
in the MSS. Well explained by Dod. as an example of constructio 
prasgnans, or contracta = pierced in (into) both sides, and so pierced 
through. Cf. Essay, p. 17. 

Ch. XLIII. — 4. Aetas nostra vidit. The author means to des- 
ignate this, as a rare instance of courage and disinterestedness in an 
age marked by prevailing cowardice and selfishness. • 

5. Custodiae Pisonis, sc. when Piso was sent forward into the 
camp. Or. Plut. (Galb. 27) and Xiph. (64, 6) represent this centurion 
as slain in defence of Galba. 

6. Exprobrans .... vertendo. Cf. note on vocans, appellando, 
etc., chap. 23. 

8. Aedem Vestae. Built by Numa on the declivity of the Capi- 
toline Hill. In ea Palladium, Penates, ignis perpetuus et Vestales 
Virgines. Rup. 

9. Publici servi erant stipatores et ministri sacerdotum, magis- 
tratuumve, et publicis sumptibus alebantur. Rup. — Contubernio. The 
dwelling or apartment of the slave, occupied by himself and his fellow- 
servant (contubernali). Only Tacitus uses the word in this sense. 
Cf. Boetticher and Freund sub voce. The word means hutting to- 



BOOK I. 287 

Page 

gether (con and taberna from tabula), tenting together, especially inKn 
military life. 

11. Nominatim. By name, i. e. expressly for that purpose. 

13. Nuper .... donatus. And therefore under obligations to 
Galba. So also it was the special duty of the speculator to defend 
Galba and Piso. 

Ch. XLIV. — 15. Nullam caedem, etc. Plutarch says (Galb. 
44), that on seeing the head of Galba, Otho cried out: " This is noth- 
ing, fellow-soldiers ; bring me the head of Piso." 

11. Mens (from Gr. /*fvo«r) is properly the intellect ; animus (from 
Gr. avs/jLOi), the spirit, the feelings. The words are used appropriately 
here, the former referring more to anxious thoughts, the latter to a 
spirit of sadness. See a lively picture of the dismal images that dis- 
turbed even the sleep of Otho, in Xiph. 64, 7. 

18. Amicitiae in T. Vinio. Cf. 13. 

19. Confuderat. Our word confuse. Often used, as here, to 
denote mental disturbance and agitation. 

20» Jus. Just in the view of men. 

21 • Fas. Right in the sight of the gods and according to the 
laws of nature. 

22. Signa cohortium .... aquilam legionis. Mark the dis- 
tinction between signa and aquila. Cf. also note on vexilla, 31. The 
legion here meant is the classica, or that which Nero had enrolled 
from the fleet, chap. 6. The Spanish legion there mentioned had 
now returned to Spain. Or. 

28. Munimeiitum .... ultionem. Ace. in appos. with the fore- 
going sentence, instead of a nom. with quod est. Roth. Dum occisum 
principem ulciscuntur, sese ipsi muniunt ad praesens, et se in posterum 
vindicant, cum exemplum successoribus ulciscendi principem relin- 
quunt. Vid. Kingsley's Tacitus. 

Ch. XLV. — 30. Alium crederes, etc. Their conduct was so 
changed that you could not have believed it the same body. Cf. note, 
10 : laudares; 57 : scires. Gr. 209, R. 7 ; Z. 528, N. 2. In all such 
examples, there is a protasis understood, e. g. you would have thought, 
if you had been present ; men might have known, if they had consid- 
ered, etc. — Ruere, anteire, etc. Notice the series of infinitives. Cf. 36. 

31. In castra, sc. praetoriana, where Otho still was. 

3T. Ad supplicium. Dod. omits ad, after the Medicean MS. 
Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

1. Optimo cuique. Dat. after quaeri. Rup. Bach calls it dat. 51 
for gen. after perniciem. 

3. Jubere, sc. scelus. He could not forbid crime, but he could 
command it, because such a command fell in with the disposition of 
the soldiers and the spirit of the age. It is one of those many passages 



288 NOTES. 

Page 

Ki in T., in which a single stroke shows us the very age and body of the 
times. 

4. Jussimi agrees with Celsum understood. — Poenas daturum, 
lit. give satisfaction, cf. note on poena, 37 ; by usage, suffer pun- 
ishment. 

Ch. XLVI. — T« Ipsi legere. The power of choosing such officers 
belonged to the senate and people ; but was usurped by the emperors, 
and now conceded by Otho to the soldiers themselves. — E manipula- 
ribus. A common soldier. Cf. 25. 

8. Vigilibus praepositum. This would not make him a regular 
officer in the army. Cf. note on vigiliis, 20. It was, therefore, a 
sudden elevation to place such a man at the head of the praetorians. 

9. Adjuugitur .... Proculus, i. e. the praetorians choose Procu- 
lus as colleague with Firmus in the praefectship. We should expect 
Proculum in the ace, and connected with Firmum as the object of 

re. Anacoluthon. Cf. Gr. 323, 3, (5). 

1 1. Urbi .... pracfecere. Cf. praefecto urbis, 14, note. 

13. Flagitatum. Cf. note on flag it a re, 12. It is followed by 
ut, with the subj., like other verbs of demanding. 

11. Yacationes = prrtia vacntionum (Ann. 1, 17), i. e. fees for 
exemption from military duty, or rather camp duty, for those who 
had the vacatio were expected to fight, if present in time of battle, 
but were not required to share in the watch, the labor of fortifying, 
etc. Such exemption had been conferred as an honor in better 
times ; it was now bought with money. The use of vacatio, in this 
sense, is peculiar to Tacitus. Cf. Boetticher. 

15. Tributum. Originally the tax of a tribe (from tribus, cf. 
Niebuhr, Rom. His. ; Keightley and Schmitz. do.) ; subsequently any 
tax or tribute. 

16. Mauipuli. This word denotes properly a handful ox bunch 
of hay, then by metonymy a detachment of soldiers serving under the 
same as an ensign. Cf. note, chap. 25. Under the emperors there 
were three maniples in each cohort and ten cohorts in each legion, so 
that the maniple was one-thirtieth of a legion. 

IT. Dum . . . . exsolverek Provided only, that they would 
pay, etc. Dum, in this sense, takes the subj. Cf. Gr. 2G3, 2 ; and 
Freund sub voce. 

18. Pensi is gen. after habebat. Gr. 214, (2) ; Z. 444, note: no 
one cared for the measure of the burden or the kind of gain, i. e. the 
source from which he derived his means to pay the fee. Orelli re- 
marks, that pensi habere aliquid is a favorite formula with Sallust, 
whom Monboddo charges Tacitus with imitating, and whom he cer- 
tainly resembles in style. 

20. Turn. Furthermore = our and then. — Locupletissimus. 
Properly, rich in real estate (locus . . . plenus). Cf. Freund sub voce. 



book i. 289 

Page 

— Quisque, after a superlative, = omnes with the positive with a little gl 
more of the distributive idea. Constructed in Cicero with singular 
verb; in Tacitus with singular or plural. Z. 367 and 710, b. 

21. Fatigari. Pressed with hard labor by the centurions. — 
Emeret. Simple for compound (redimeret). Cf. Essay, p. 11. Be- 
sides avoiding the repetition of redimere, enter e suggests the idea of a 
sale by the centurions for filthy lucre. See Or. in loc. 

25. Bella civilia is governed by ad before seditiones. Some 
editors insert in; but it is not necessary to depart from the MSS. See 
a similar construction in legiones ducesque, 4 ; also Essay, p. 12. 

26. Vulgi. Common soldiers. In its etymology, vulgus is our 
word folk, German, volk. — Largitione, i. e. remissione vacationum. 
Vulgi is objective genitive = in vulgus. 

29. Tanquam .... seponeretur. Under color of banishment, 
Seponere is not used in this sense in the Augustan age. Otho gave 
out that Laco was banished, but sent a man to put him to death. 
Palam in the next clause is opposed to this clandestine procedure. 

31. Confossus. He was stabbed on his way from Rome towards 
his place of banishment. His having left Rome is not stated, but im- 
plied in the pregnant style of the author. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

3 2. Libertum. Ernesti insists on libertinum. But in the age of 
Tacitus, the distinction between these words (for which see note, G. 
25) was not observed. m 

Ch. XLVII. — 33. Novissimuni. Like our word last, which = 
latest, or newest, and also farthest, last in a series. Cf. note, G. 24. 

34. Vocat .... urbaims. The consuls, Galba and Vinius, were 
slain ; the consul elect also, Marius Celsus, was in irons. The Prae- 
tor Urbanus was the first in rank of the praetors (of whom there were 
some twelve or fifteen under the emperors), and the chief magistrate 
for the administration of justice. His duties confined him to the city. 
In the absence or death of the consuls, he, as in this instance, dis- 
charged the functions of a consul. Cf. 4, 39 ; Cic. Ep. ad Div. 10, 12. 
Praetor w T as in early times the name for any magistrate or leader 
(prae-itor). Manual, P. 3, 243. The consuls were originally called 
praetors. Cic. Leg. 3, 3. Cf. Nieb. and Arn. Rom. His. 

1« Omisisset. Passed them over entirely. — Distulisset. Deferred 52 
the punishment of them. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

4. Permisit and concedi are not tautology. He gave permission 
to his officers that the bodies should be yielded to the friends. 

6. Composuere. Buried, properly, arranged or adorned for burial ; 
a sense peculiar to Tacitus with the poets. Cf. Boetticher and Freund 
sub voce. 

Ch. XLVIII. — 8. Explebat. Was filling out, i. e. had nearly 
completed, though Ernesti and Wr. make it = expleverat. 

11. Ad hoc. To this end = ds tovto. 

25 



290 NOTES. 

Page 

to 14:. Praetoria familia. Al. e praetoria familia. But cf. eques- 
tri familia. 52. The abl. here denotes rank and quality, not source. 
— E proscriptis, sc.by the triumvirate, Octavius, Antony and Lepidus. 

18. Eadem lascivia. In the same wanton mood. Subj. Cf. Gr. 
263, 5, R, 2 ; Z. 578. — Temperasset. Al. temer asset, temptasset and 
tentasset. Tentasset is found in the margin of one MS. All the rest, 
including the Medicean, have temperasset, which when it governs the 
ace. means rule, regulate (Z. 414), as in Suet. Oct. 68 : Viden', ut ci- 
naedus orbem digito temperet. She went the rounds with the officer of 
the watch (the circuitor, cf. Smith's Diet., Castra), and directed the 
sentinels and others, who were on duty, in the performance of their 
exercises. Such is almost the language of Dion in describing the same 
occurrence, 59, 18. — In ipsis principiis. The principia was a large 
public place in the camp where were the tents of the general (praeto- 
rium) and of the other principal officers ; where also stood the stan- 
dards, the images of the emperors and the altars of the gods. The 
emphatic ipsis refers to the peculiar boldness of such an act in such a 
place, sacred by the presence, not only of the officers, but of the gods. 
— Stuprum ausa. Usually said only of males, but peculiarly appro- 
priate to such a female. Orelli explains it thus : eo usque impiae te- 
meritatis, ut so 6tuprari sineret a Vinio. 

21. In abrupt urn. Upon the brink of a precipice, i. e. to a 
dangerous elevation. Cf. per abrupt a, A* 42. 

28. Inclustrius. Ant. to pravus. Hence virtuous. Compare 

the Greek (nroviatog. 

Cii. XLIX. — 31. Galbae. Emphatic ; hence placed first, as also 
Pisonis at the close of the last section. — Licentia tenebrarum. Under 
cover of the darkness ; lit. in the unrestrained freedom of the darkness. 

3 2. E prioribus servis. Priores sunt veteres, i. e. qui ante 
principatum servi Galbae fuere. Wr. 

33. Privatis .... hortis, sc. Galbae, ad viam Aureliam. Cf. 
Suet. Galb. 20. 

34. Ante .... tumulum. Ante shows the relation between tu- 
mulum and repertum. It had been thrown there in revenge for the 
death of Patrobius, according to Suetonius (Galb. 20), by a freedman 
of Patrobius, who purchased it of the market/men and camp-boys 
(lixas calonesque) for a hundred aurei. Of Patrobius, see 2, 95 ; Plin. 
35, 13, et al. 

. 36. Cremato. The Romans burned the bodies of the dead in 
this age. Cf. note, 5, 5 : corpora. 

3T. Hunc exitum. Such was the death, etc. 

38. Q,uinque principes emensus, i. e. spatium imperii quinque 
principum, ut emetiri spatium. Ann. 11, 32 ; 15, 16. Rup. 
gQ 2. Ipsi medium iugenium. He himself had middling talents. 

3* Venditator. A vain boaster. Properly, a crier up of wares 



BOOK I. 291 

Page 

for sale, from vendo. The word is found only in T. Incuriosus Kq 
also is peculiar to his age. 

5. Avarus, avaricious ; parcus, saving. Avar us is the stronger 
word. — Ubi .... incidisset. Plup. subj., to denote a repeated action. 
Cf. Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569. 

6. Sine reprehensione = excusably. Ant. to usque ad culpam, 
which implies the contrary. As to this culpa in Galba, cf. 7 and 12. 

8. Q,uod segnitia .... vocaretur. He was thought to have 
prudently concealed his abilities and repressed his activity, because of 
the dangers which attended men of high birth in those perilous times, 
somewhat as Brutus did under Tarquin. Cf. A. 6 : gnarus sub Nerone 
temporum, quibus inertia pro sapientia fuit. See Doderlein 's note 
in loc. 

9. Pro consule. Al. proconsul. The sense is the same with 
either reading. A proconsul is one who acts in the place of a consul, 
without holding the consular office. It was usual in the later periods 
of the Roman state, for the consuls, on the expiration of their office, to 
take the government of a province with consular power. The pro- 
consulship was, therefore, a continuation, though a modified one, of 
the consulship. Cf. Diet, of Gr. and Rom. Antiq. 

11. Continuit, sc. in fide et officio = rexit. Cf. retinere, 11. — 
Major .... imper asset. A principle often verified by facts ; and here 
expressed in language which the reader will not soon forget, but which 
Monboddo censures as affected. 

Ch. L. — 14:. Paventem. Properly, palpitating with fear (from 
pavio, Gr. -naiu). A stronger word than timens, or metuens. 

15. Exterruit. Ex only gives emphasis here. But cf. exterri- 
tus, 39. 

16. Superioris .... descivisse. Cf. 12. — Crederetur. Impers. 
The more frequent construction in the early Latin would be exercitus 
crederetur. Cf. note, G. 32 : narratur. 

21. Saevae pacis. Galba fell without a blow struck in his defence. 
It could not, therefore, be called civil war ; but it was a cruel and 
bloody peace. Cf. 2 : ipsa etiain pace saevu?n. — Exernpla is the obj. 
of loquebantur, and memoria is abl. abs. with rcpetita, though improp- 
erly followed by a colon in the common editions. 

23. Pharsaliam. Where Pompey was conquered by Julius Cae- 
sar, a. u. 706. — Philippos. Where Brutus and Cassius were defeated 
and slain by Octavius and Antony, a. u. 712. 

21. Perusiam. Where Antony was reduced to submission by 
Octavius, a. u. 713. — Mutinam (now Modena), where the consuls, 
Hirtius and Pansa, the last who enjoyed with full power the dignity of 
chief magistrates of Rome, were slain in a battle with the murderers 
of Julius Caesar, a. u. 711. 

25. lioquebantur == they talked of. 



292 xoii-o. 

Page 

KD 26. C. Julio, sc. victore. When Julius Cccsar was victorious. 

29. Ituros. Direct questions, unless addressed to the second per- 
son, are expressed by the ace with the inf. in the oratio obliqua. Cf. 
Z. 603, c. 

34. Ambigua .... fama. There were contradictory accounts of 
the character of Vesp. 

35. In melius mutatus est, i. e. became a better emperor than 
he had been private man. Galba disappointed expectation. Cf. 49. 
Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero had each given promise of better 
things in the early part of those reigns, which have now become the 
very synonyms of tyranny and cruelty. 

Ch. LI. — 3T. Caeso .... Vindice. Cf. note, 8. 

38. Ut cui .... evenisset. Cf. note, 37: ut qui .... trucida- 
verit. 
xa 1. Expeditionem et aeiem. Al. quum otium, which is a con- 
jecture of Lipsius. The MSS. and earlier editions have et acic?n } and 
to this reading, the more recent editors have returned. Render thus: 
the army (sc. the Gorman) nWD preferred campaigns and battles with 
their attending rewards (viz. booty and imperial largesses), to the 
regular pat/ and ordinary service. Observe the causative sense of 
ditissimi: the source of great w< tilth. Cf. Tibull. : divitis auri. 

3, Ingenio loci coeliquc. Cf, G. chap. 2 and 4. 

I. Pace. Tranquillity. Antith. to discordiac civium. 

5. Utrimque. In both parties. 

6. Ad decus. For or no men t, or display, as ad usum denotes for 
useful purposes. Al. ad dedecus = for disgraceful and criminal uses. 
The sense is equally good, and the authority nearly equal for either 
reading. The viri, arma, equi, here spoken of, are the prizes of the 
late victory over Vindex and the Gauls. — Bellum, sc. against Vindex. 

T. Centurias. Each maniple (cf. note, 46) was divided into two 
centuries, of which there were, therefore, sixty in each legion, and of 
course the same number of centurions. Cf. Ann. 1, 32. The number 
of men in a century varied from 50 to 100, as the legion varied from 
3000 to 6000. Niebuhr supposes the century to have consisted origin- 
ally of thirty footmen, as the turrna did of thirty horsemen. — Noverant. 
Had been acquainted with. 

9. Se . . . . expertae, i. e. having found themselves superior to the 
Gauls, they were now eager for another conflict with them. 

II. Vocabant, sc. Gallos. 

13. Instigatrix. Only in Tacitus. — Hoc .... indiderant. For 
they had given the Gauls this name (Galbians), having become weary 
(disgusted) with calling them after Vindex. 

14:. Sequanis. Dat. after infensi. The Sequani were a people 
of Belgic Gaul, and derived their name from the Sequana (Seine), 
about the sources of which they dwelt. Their capital was Vesontio, 



book i. 293 

now Besancon. — Aeduis. A people of Gallia Lugdunensis, bordering p^i 
on the Sequani. Their capital was Augustodunum, now Antun. — Ac 
deinde .... erat = ac deinde aliis civitatibus, prout opulentia iis 
erat. 

17. Hausenint animoo They greedily coveted, more literally, 
they already devoured in imagination. — Super avaritiam, is to be 
connected with irritati. 

18. Reniissain .... donatos, sc. with Roman citizenship and the 
lands of their neighbors. Cf. chap. 8. Instead of et donatos, the edi- 
tions which follow Oberlin and the Bipontines have eos damnatos, a 
mere conjecture. 

20. In ignominiani exercitus, sc. Germanici. This clause should 
be connected with j a xtabant. The Gauls boasted, to the disgrace of 
the German army, that a fourth part, etc. Cf. Orelli's note in loc. — 
Accessit. Cf. note, 5 : accessit vox. 

21. Decuniari = decumatum iri. So dimitti = were to be dis- 
missed, sc. by Galba. — Legiones, sc of Lower Germany. 

23. Sinistra. Left hand ; hence inauspicious, unfavorable ; a 
poetical sense of the word. — Lugdunensis colonia. Now Lyons. 

2-1. Rumoribus. Reports unfavorable to Galba. 

Ch. LII. — 2T. Sub. About, i. e. shortly before. Sometimes, 
though rarely, shortly after. — Superioris = prioris, i. e. the preceding 
year, a. u. 821. — Aulus Vitellius .... ingressus. Cf. 9. 

29. Cum cura = cum imperio, ut curaret (i. e. regeret). Rup. 
and Dod. Cura (from quaero) not unfrequently denotes an office of 
trust and authority, particularly in the later Latin authors. See ex- 
amples in the Lexicon. 

30. Notae. Marks of disgrace, especially those imposed by the 
censor. 

31. In quibus .... mutaverat. In which (course of proceed- 
ings) he had entirely changed the state of things which the sordid 
avarice (sordem et avaritiam, hendiadys) of Fonteius Capito had 
produced, by taking away military offices (from those to whom he 
had given them), or restoring them (to those from whom he had 
taken them), as the case might require. Ve is distributive. Cf. G. 4: 
solove. 

3 3. In majus, i. e. quasi Vitellius non consularis legatus, sed ipse 
imperator esset. Rup. Cf. note on in majus, 18. 

34:. Et Vitellius. Et = nam, introduces particular examples 
of the general fact stated in the foregoing clause. Hence it should 
not be preceded by a period, as it is in the common editions. — Ita = 
itaque. Cf. 45, where ita is used in the same way. Render the 
whole passage thus: For in the estimation of strictly impartial judg- 
es, Vitellius was abject and mean; so his friends called it conde- 
scension : and because without measure and without reason he gave 

25* 



294 NOTES. 

Page 

K/L away his own (private) property and lavished that which was not his 
(sc. the public), they called it goodness (kindness). At the same 
time, i. e. still further, in their eagerness for power, the friends of 
Vitellius construed his very vices (viz. gluttony and debauchery) as 
virtues. Such is Wr.'s reading and interpretation of this difficult pas- 
sage. Rup., Dod. and Or. insert ut between et and Vitellius, without 
MS. authority. 

36. Donaret. Subj. to express the views of others, not of the 
author = because, as they said, he gave, etc. Cf. Gr. 266, 3 ; Z. 571. 
3T. Multi is made the subj. of inter pretabantur in the previous 
sentence in the common editions. But such a view of things could 
hardly be predicated of the modesti quietique and the mali et strenui 
in common. Besides that reading destroys the force of sed in the next 
clause. T. has given the character of Vitellius above. He now passes 
to give a sketch of the army and its officers. He says, there were in 
both armies (sc. of Upper and of Lower Germany) many peaceable 
(quieti) and unambitious (modesti) characters ; there were also many 
turbulent (mali, ill-disposed, cf. apud malos seditio, 26) and restless 
(strenui) spirits: but Caecina and Valens excelled in, etc. 

KK 3. Tauquam. Because in his opinion. Hence followed by the 
subj. Cf. note, G. 20 : tanquam. — Cunctationem. Hesitation. Cf. 
note, 33. Indecision in such a case (sc. when the empire was offered 
him, cf. 8 and 9) would be construed as a crime against Galba, who 
would expect of Verginius a prompt and decided negative. 

4. Ingrate tulisset. Had received without due gratitude. Dod. 
makes tulisset = retulisset : had made an ungrateful return for. 

5. Ipsum. Vitellius himself 

6. Flacco Hordeonio. Cf. 9. 

8. Panderet. A nautical metaphor, non a sinu togae, sed potius 
a nautis, qui pandunt sinum velorum. So Rup. But Dod. and Or. 
refer it to the toga : only let him open his bosom. 

lO. Equestri familia, etc. Abl. of quality. Cf. note, 44. 

12. Collegium Caesaris. L. Vitellius, the father of the emperor, 
had been colleague with Claudius Caesar twice in the consulship and 
once in the censorship. Cf. Suet. Vitel. chap. 2. 

Ch. LIII. — 16. Decora juventa, corpore ingens, etc. Notice 
the enallage. These phrases all express the quality of Caecina, and 
at the same time they indirectly denote the means of illexerat. Decora 
in the sense of pulchra is poetical. Dod. follows the Medicean MS. in 
retaining the antique form decori (abl.). Cf. Essay, p. 21. 

19. Baetica, sc. Hispania. Galba's command was in Hispania 
Tarraconensis. 

20. Compertum agrees with Caecinam. 

21* Flagitari = in jus vocari, accusari. Postulare is often used 
in the same sense. 



book i. 295 

24. Bello Viiidicem. Cf. 8. ? ^ 

26. Praeveutus erat. Cf. praeventam gratiam, 5. 

2T. Treveri. A German people between the Meuse and the 

Rhine, now Treves. — Lingones. A people of Gallia Lugdunensis on 
the Seine, now Langres. The reader will be struck with the perpe- 
tuity of the names of places. These always outlast spoken languages, 
and often survive a series of political revolutions. Compare the Celtic 
names of places in Great Britain, and the Indian names of mountains, 
rivers and states in America. — Quas alias civitates. By attraction 
for aliae civitates, quas. Civitates = states, not cities in our sense 
of the word. Ad rem. cf. 8. 

28. Hibernis .... miscentur. Lie contiguous to, and have 
frequent intercourse with, the legions of Upper Germany in their 
winter -quarters. Expressed with extreme conciseness. 

29. Inter .... corruptior, sc. quam in castris. Our word pagan 
comes from paganus. The earliest Christian churches were in the 
cities, while yet the inhabitants of the country villages were uncon- 
verted. Compare heathen from heath. 

30. Cuicumque alii, sc. quam Verginio, qui imperium sibi dela- 
tum respuebat. Cf. 8 and 52. Rup. 

Cn. LIV. — 3 2. Legionibus, sc. of Upper Germany. 

33. Dextras. Quasdam figuras ex auro aut argento. Ernesti. 
In nummis saepe occurrunt duae manus junctae cum varia epigraphe: 
Exercituum Fides, Concordia, Consensus. Brotier. — Squalorem. C£ 
note, G. 31. 

34:. Compositi. Cf. note, A. 42. — Principia. Cf. note, 48. 

36. Pronis auribus. .Cf. chap. 1. 

38. Hordeonius Flaccus. Cf. 9. 

4r. Per tenebras, etc. = hi tenebris, ceterisque insciis, igna- K£ 
ris. Wr. 

5. Obstringuntur. Like the middle voice of the Greeks. Cf 
G. 39 : evolvuntur. 

T. Circumdatis .... alisque is the manner or means of parare- 
tur, i. e. by throwing their cohorts and squadrons around them, sc. 
the legions. Ala = 1. The wing of a bird; 2. The wing of an 
army ; 3. Any body of cavalry, because the cavalry were usually sta- 
tioned on the wings of the Roman armies. Ala, though indefinite, is 
usually a larger body than turma. Cf. note, chap. 51. 

8. Eadem, sc. seditiosa consilia cum legionibus. 

Ch.LV. — 12. Sacramento .... ad act ae. Dod. considers Sac- 
ramento to be dative here, as just below : sacramento advocabant. 
Cf. Essay, p. 13. The ace, or ace. with ad, is the prevailing con- 
struction after adigere in Caesar, Livy and the earlier writers ; the abl. 
in Tacitus, Suetonius and the later authors. Cf. Freund, sub voce. 



296 notes. 

Page 

Ka 20. Superiore exercitu. Cf. note, superior exercitus, 9. See 

also note on Inferioris Germaniae, ibid. 

22. IMrumpii] t. Break in pieces. Di gives emphasis. 

23. Duodevicesima. Al. duoetvicesima. The ISth hesitating 
at first, but afterwards falling in with the measure. 

24:. Imperii, sc. Roman*. The Roman empire or government. 

— Senatus rwmina. The old republican usage of swearing 

fidelity to the senate and people of Rome had been superseded by the 
oath of allegiance to the emperor. It was now in form revived, and 
those obsolete names were again called or appealed to in the oath 
(sacramento advocabant). Instead of saeramento, some copies have 
sacrament a here. 

26. Legatorum. The commander of a legion was called lega- 
tus (cf. note, 7), also the commander of an entire army, and governor 
of the province where it was stationed. Cf. A. 7. — Tribunorum. Cf. 
note on tribunus, 28. 

28, Ehftggmtau Cf. note, 36. Here put for de or pro suggestu. 
Bnay, pp. 11, 12. 

21). Cui imputaretur. In cujus gratiam fieret. E. Cf. note on 
vnputct. 38. Subj. Cf. Of. 864$ 6 ; Z. 561. 

Ch. LVI. — 30. Hordeonius Flaccus. Cf. 54. — Consularis le- 
gatus. Cf. note on legatorum, 55, and places cited there. 

3 2. Socordia innocciis, i. e. he took no part in the flagitii, but 
it was only because he was too inactive. 

35. Cum protegcrent. When and because they were protect- 
ing. A combination of time and cause expressed by the subj. Z. 578. 

36. Abrepti. Torn away from their post. — Ultra. Used in 
place of an adj. Cf. note, G. 19. 

38. Unde. Ex vel in qua parte. Ernesti. 
Zfl 1. In ... . nuntiat. Brings word into or to the Agrippinian 
colony (now Cologne, cf. G. 28). 

4. In ... . verba jurasse. Cf. notes on senatus .... nomina, 
55, and praeire sacramentmn, 36. 

5» Inane. Unmeaning. — Occupari. Anticipated (cf. 40), i. e„ 
seized before it turned against him, while it was yet nutantem. 

6. Principem, sc. Vitellius. 

T. Ctui .... nuntiarent. Qui with the subj. denoting the object 
of the mission. Cf. Gr. 264, 5 ; Z. 556. 

IO. Sumi. Accepted on the nomination of the superior exercitus* 

Ch. LVII. — 11. Proxima. The nearest to the quarters of Vitel- 
lius of all the legions of Lower Germany. Probably at Bonna, now 
Bonn. Cf. 4, 25 : Bonnam, hiberna primae legionis. — Promptissi- 
mus .... Valens. Cf. 7. 

14:. Gressus* Simple for compound (ingressus). Compare 
Virg. Aen. 6, 633 : gressi per opaca viarum. Cf. Essay, p. 11. 



book i. 297 

Page 

16. Speciosis .... relictis. Cf. 55. p<rt 

IT. Scires. Cf. note, 45 : crederes. 

18. Ilium, sc. exercitum. " The men, it now was plain, were 
never the soldiers of a republic." Murphy. — Prior e biduo. During 
the two days previous, while they had been making such a show of 
patriotism. Cf. 55. 

21. Ingenio valiaus. Ingenio is taken in very different senses 
by different commentators, e. g. eloquence in enlisting others, by 
Pichena ; skill in fabricating arms and implements of war, by 
Wr. ; practical tact in general, by Bach and Rup. Observe through- 
out this sentence the constant omission of connectives. It is a some- 
what striking, though by no means rare specimen of the author's 
fondness for the asyndeton. Cf. Essay, p. 13. 

22. Q,uibus .... spes. Who had present resources in abun- 
dance, and who, if victorious, cherished high hopes of better things in 
future. — Ex affluenti = amuentia, adverbial phrase for adj. 

23. Manipuli et gregarius miles. Hendiadys. Gr. 323, 2,(3). 

24. Viatica. Pecuniam ad sumptus viae. Cf. Suet. Caes. 
68. Brotier. 

25. Iiistinctu, sc. aliorum. Cf. instinctu decurionum, 70 ; im- 
petu, sc. proprio, cf. A. 15 ; avaritia, hoping to receive in return 
more than they gave. 

Ch. LVIIL— 28. Per libertos .... solita. Cf. note on liberto, 
13. — In equites .... disponit. Not however to the exclusion of 
freedmen, and even buffoons. Cf. 2, 57. 65. 95. Suet. Vitel. 12. 

35. Fonteio Capitoni. Cf. 7. — Struxisset. Subj. Cf. note, 
52 : tanquam. 

36. Occidere palam, etc. See a similar passage in 45, and 
note on jubere, ibid. 

38. Post victoriam, sc. Vitellii ad Bedriacum, 2, 40-49. — Stra- 
tis = compositis, sedatis ; lit. smoothed, like waves. No other prose 
writer uses the word so. Cf. Freund, sub voce. 

1. Objicitur, sc. militum furori, vel his tanquam feris bestiis. Rup. &Q 

3. Punienti, sc. Vitellio. — Vilior. Of less value. Cf. G. 5 : vilitate. 

Ch. LIX. — 5. Ne alien aretur depends on exemptus. with 

which supply est. It is implied here that the army demanded the 
punishment of Civilis. — Et erant adds a fact which shows the im- 
portance of the friendship of Civilis to Vitellius. 

6. Turn. At this time. So T. uses it passim, e. g. A. 39. 40 ; 
His. 1, 70. 

lO. Supra, sc. chap. 56. — 12. Partibus, sc. Vitellii. 

14:. AJa Taurina. So named from a people, whose capital was 
Augusta Taurinorum, 2, 66, now Turin, and from whom the squad- 
ron was enlisted. 

Ch. LX.— IT. Trebellius Maximus. Cf. A. 16. 



298 NOTES. 

Page 

to 19. Odium ejus, i. e. the hatred of the army towards him. 
Ejus, obj. gen. Gr. 211, R. 2. 

2 1 • Proruperat, sc. Caelius. A less concise writer would have 
said : qui olim discors fuerat, sed qui, etc. 

23. Objectabat. Was charging habitually or repeatedly. Gr. 
145, II. 1. 

24. Modestia. Cf. note on modestiam. A. 20. — Eo discordiae. 
Cf. Gr. 212, R. 4, N. 3 ; Z. 434. 

25. Auxiliarium quoque. The auxiliaries also, i. e. as well as 
the legion of Caelius. Cf. Gr. 279, 3 : quidem and quoque. 

26. Cohortibus alisque, sc. auxiliarium. 

28. Consular!, i. e. the governor. — Legati legionum, i. e. the 
commanders of the separate legions. Cf. notes at chapters 7 and 55. 

Ch. LXI. — 31. Cottianis Alpibus. " The Alps are distinguished 
in different parts by different names: as the Maritime Alps, near 
Genoa ; the Cottian Alps, separating Dauphine from Piedmont ; the 
Graiuii Alp.s\ beginning from Mount Cenis, where the Cottian end, 
and extending to Great St. Bernard ; the Pennine Alps, extending 
from west to east to the Rtctian Alps, the Alpes Noricae, and the 
Pannoniitn Alps, as far as the springs of the Kulpe. They are called 
Alps from alpen, a Celtic term for high mountains." Murphy. 

35. Aquila .... alisque, i. e. the entire fifth legion. Of the 
other legions of Lower Germany, there went only electi. Bach. 

36. Data agrees with millia, as if there were no ad in the sen- 
tence ; ad with numerals being often used adverbially, like our about. 
Cf. Z. 296. 

tq 2. Tota mole belli. With his entire military strength and re- 
sources. Cf. tota mole rcgni, Ann. 6, 36. 

Ch. LXII. — 3. Diversitas is not found in the writers of the Au- 
gustan age. 

4:. Dum .... trepideut. The subj. here conveys the sentiments 
of the army, not of the author. Gr. 266, 3; Z. 549. Otherwise the 
indie, would follow dum. 

5. Xeque .... moras. Observe the brachylogy: nor would they 
endure the delays of an inactive peace. 

T. Facto .... consulto. Notice the concrete form of these words. 
Cf. note, chap. 1 : conditam. They are much more lively and forcible 
than our words action and consultation. See the same in Sail. Cat. 1. 

lO. Medio .... temulentus. So Nero. Ann. 14, 2. Peter 
argues on the supposition, that it is wellnigh impossible, at least quite 
incredible, that a man should be drunken at an early hour of the day. 
Acts, 2, 15. 

1 2. Strenuis .... adderet. Cf. note, G. 4 : minime, etc. 

1*. Caesarem prohibuit. Cf. 2, 62 ; Suet. Vitel. 8 ; Plut. 

Galb. 22. 



book i, 299 

15. liaetum augurium is nom. in appos. with aquila, kq 

17 • Meatu. Poetic and post- Augustan. Cf. Freund sub voce. 
Probably preferred to volatu, as more expressive of slow and gentle 
motion. 

18. Is is correlative to ut = such .... that, and accordingly fol- 
lowed by the subj. (Gr. 262, R. 1 ; Z. 556), which we however must 
render by the ind. For the imperf. after ut, cf. note, chap. 24: dederiU 

Ch. LXIIL— 21. Treviros. The people of Treves. 

22. Divoduri. Now Metz, so called from the name of the people, 
Mediomatrici. — 23. Pavor. Cf. note on paventem, 50. 

24:. Ob praedam .... cupidine. Not tautology. Ob prae- 
dam is objective ; spoliandi cupidine subjective : not because there 
was booty to be had in the town, nor because they were fired with a 
passion for plunder. Cf. Doderleiu's note in loc. 

25. Furore, fury ; rabie, madness. Rabies implies the privation 
of consciousness. Ramshorn, 

2T. Temperavere. Refrained. See the same construction and 
meaning, Virg. Aen. 2,8: temperet a lacrimis. Cf. note, 48: tem- 
perasset. The radical idea of the word is that of separation (tempus, 
Tifivu). — Caesa. Cf. note on data, 61. 

29. Magistratibus et precibus. Hendiadys, =* magistratibus, 
qui deprecabantur exitium imminens. Roth. 

30. Occurrerent. Met them successively, or in a continued 
series. Observe the force of the imperfect. Cf. notes, 24 : dederit ; 
and 66 : admoverit. 

31. Placamenta, e. g. infulae et velamenta. Cf. 66: velamenta 
et infulas praeferentes. The word is post-Augustan. — Non quidem , . . 
pace, i. e. though they were not at war with the Romans, they used 
all the appropriate means of procuring peace. Acute dictum atque 
acerbe. Wr. 

3 2. Tendebantur = protendebantur. Compare protendens ?na- 
nus, 36, with tendere manus, 2, 46. Simple for compound. 

Ch. LXIV. — 35. Volvebat has animus militum for its subject. 
3T. Proxima. Next south of the Leuci on the way to Rome. 

1. Intemperie = propter intemperantiam, immodestiam. Rup. QQ 

2. Supra, sc. 59. 

3. Jurgia. Litigation (horn jure and ago), altercation. 

4:. Rixa. A passionate quarrel, which goes to fisticuffs. Cf. G. 
22. Ramshorn. 

5. Exarsere, ni. Sup. the ellipsis by et exarsissent. Cf. hau- 
sisse, ni, A. 4, note ; and Essay, p. 15. Render ni by but. 

6. Animadversione. Cf. note on animadvertere, G. 7. — Imperii 
belongs both to oblitos and admonuissent. Wr. 

lO. Abductae. Were withdrawn from their quarters at Lyons 
(cf. 59), and joined the army of Vitellius. 



300 NOTES. 

Sn 11. Lriigduni hibernis. Cf. Gr. 204, R. 7 ; Z. 399. 

15. Deciperetur. Subj. Cf. Gr. 262, R. 9 ; Z. 536. 

Ch. LXV. — 16. Vieimenses* The people of Vienna, now Vienne- 
in Dauphine. This vetus discordia goes back to the origin of Lyons, 
which was founded by exiles from Vienna. 

IT. Proximum bellum, sc. the war excited by Vindex, in which 
the Lngdunenses sided with Nero, the Viennenses with Vindex and 
Galba. — Invicem. Adv. for adj. The ellipsis may be supplied by il- 
latae. Cf. note, G. 18: extra; also A. 6: longe ; 8: ultra. 

18. Q,nam at ... . pugnaretur. Ut = velut (cf. Essay, p. 10) y 
or quasi; hence followed by the subj. So ut is used after ita by 
Cicero in the sense of quasi. Cf. Kiihners note, Tusc. Quaes. 5, 28, 
81. Or with Dod. pugnaretur may be taken as equivalent to pugnari 
crederes, in which case ut = sicut. The sentiment of the clause has- 
reference to the peculiar bitterness of local animosities exceeding even 
the fury of civil war. 

20. Occasionc irae. Taking advantage of the civil discord. 
Cf. irae civilcs, Ann. 1, 43. Wr. In the heat of his displeasure at 
their adherence to Nero. Bach. 

21. Uno amne. By a river only, sc. the Rhone. Cf. Essay, p. 17, 

22. ConnexMm = ut inter connexas, i. e. finitimas gentes. Cf. 
solitum inter accolas odium, 5, 1. 

25. Referendo = memorando, reminding. 

29. Cuncta .... Romanam. Vienna was an old town of the- 
Allobroges, built before the Roman conquest. Lyons was a recent 
colony, established by authority of the Roman senate. Cf. Dio. 46, 
50. Both were in fact Roman colonies. Cf. infra : vetustas .... 
coloniae. The Lugdunenses, in the bitterness of their hostility, exag- 
gerate the difference between the two towns. 

31. IVe relinquerentur depends on preces. 

Ch. LXVI. — 36. Arma prensando* Acts expressive of 

humble and earnest supplication. Notice the climacteric order begin- 
ning with the armor, then embracing the knees (the Homeric attitude), 
then the feet (vestigia, literally, tracks, soles of the feet), of course 
prostrate on the ground, and following up, as it were, the averted and 
departing footsteps of the soldiers. 

38. Turn, sc. after money had been given them, then the soldiers 
began to think of the antiquity and dignity of the colony. The lan- 
guage is somewhat sarcastic. Compare Doderlein's notes both on 
vestigia and turn. 
(JJ 1. Salutem refers to the continued existence, incolumitatem to 
the uninjured state of the people. Salvus incolumisque = our safe 
and sound. Roth, Rup. and Wr. call them synonyms. 

3. Mulctati = privati. — Promiscuis copiis. Frumento vel com- 
meatu communiter ac sine discrimine ordinum ab omnibus dato. 



BOOK 1. 301 

Pagre 
f. Iliopi juventa is the cause of prodigus. z?i 

8. Ipsa itiiierum, etc., i. e< induced by bribes not to encamp at 

certain towns or country places, but to march farther, or stop short, or 

take another direction. 

11. Iiuco. Lucus Augusti, now Luc. Cf. Plin. 3, 4. 

12. Admoverit. Compare the completed action expressed by 
admoverit with the prolonged anxiety and suspense denoted by arbi- 
trarentur at the beginning of the section, or with the continued series 
of acts denoted by occurrerent in chap. 63. Cf. note, 24 : dederit. — 
Donee .... mitigaretur. Cf. note, 35 : levaretur. 

13. Q,uotiens .... deesset. The subj. denoting a repeated ac- 
tion. Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569.— Materia, i. e. facultas dandae. Ernesti. 

Ch. LXVIL— 15. Plus praedae. More than Valens. The po- 
sition of plus gives it emphasis, = still more. — Hausit must be taken 
in a somewhat different sense with these two objects respectively: he 
took more booty and shed more blood. Dod. Cf. Essay, 16. 

16. Helvetii. The territory of the Helvetii was a part of Celtic 
Gaul, more extensive than what is now called Switzerland. The peo- 
ple are celebrated by Julius Caesar for their military virtue and constant 
warfare with the Germans. Caes. B. G. 1, 1. Murphy. 

IT. Clara agrees with gens, ignari with Helvetii. Cf. Gr. 205, 
R. 3. 

19. Avaritia ac festinatio = avaritia ardens by hendiadys. So 
Rup. But festinatio may denote impetuosity. — Rapuerant agrees 
with legio, as a collective noun. Gr. 209, R. 11 ; Z. 366. 

2T. Locus .... frequens. Called casiellum above. Known to 
the ancients under the name of Aquae Helveticae, or Vicus Aquensis, 
now Baden (Baths). 

28. Ut . . . . aggrederentur. To attach — Versos in legionem. 
While engaged with the legion (the twenty-first) in front. 

Ch. LXVIII. — 32. Non arma noscere = non usum armorum 
scire. So Wr., Dod. and Or. But Rup. prefers another explanation : 
non arma noscere quisque sua, sed promiscue rapere ; which accords 
better with the context and the prevailing usage of Tacitus, who em- , 
ploys noscere in the sense of recognise, distinguish, cf. 3, 24: nos- 
cere suos noscique ; 1,90: genus ipsum orandi noscerent ; or else 
he employs it in the sense of being or becoming acquainted with per- 
sons, e. g. 1, 51 : centurias .... suas .... noverant. The former of 
these uses is hardly found in Cicero. Cf. Freund sub voce. 

3 5. Ipsorum Raetorum juventus, i. e. volunteers, in distinction 
from those who had enlisted in the Roman army (alae cohortesque). 

38. Montem Vocetium. Est pars asperrima Jurae. Oberlin. 

1. Depulsi. They were dislodged, driven down. Supply sunt. 62 
Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

4. Sub corona. The origin of this expression is explained in two 

26 



302 NOTES. 

Page 

ac\ ways : 1. That captives wore coronae when sold as slaves ; 2. That 

they were surrounded by a body of armed men, called a corona. Gel- 

lius (N. A. 7, 4) mentions both explanations and prefers the former. 

See Rup. in loco. — Aventicum. Now Avenches, near Friburg. Or. 

5. Caput. The chief city. Urbs is properly the capital ; civitas, 
the whole body of citizens, the state. Cf. Rams. 206. — Peteretur. 
Subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 5, R. 2 ; Z. 578. Render by the ind. 

Ch. LXIX. — 9. Legati. Sent to Vitellius to propitiate his favor. 

lO. Invenerint. Whether they found. Subj. of the indirect 
question. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

12. Minis ac verbis. Threatening words, by hendiadys. Roth 
and Wr. More probably, however, as Dod. suggests, minis refers to 
threatening looks and actions. They are dat. after temperare, which 
with the dat. means to refrain from, lit. to restrain himself in respect 
to. In 63, it is followed by the abl. with ab in the same sense ; in 48, 
with ace. in the sense of to regulate. Cf. note, 48. 

15. Afutabilem agrees with animum. Al. mutubile, referring to 
vulgo, and about equal in MS. authority with mutabilem. 

16. Immodicus. This is the reading of Gronovius, Wr., Or., etc. 
The MSS, have immodicum , which does not correspond with mutabi- 
lem, aud cannot agree with animus in the nom. 

IT. Effusis Jacrimis. Copious tears. Said of anything un- 
confmed or unrestrained, and particularly frequent after the Augustan 
age. Cf. Freund. Dod. prefers effusi with lacrimis dative after it. 
Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

Ch. LXX. — 19. Dum .... fieret. Till he should become, i. e, 
with that object in view. Hence the subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 4 ; Z. 575. 

21. Alani Silianam. Al. Sullanam and Syllanam. Tho squad- 
ron is supposed to have derived its name from C. Silius, legate of Up- 
per Germany under Tiberius. Ann. 1, 31. 72, etc. Cf. Ala Petrina, 
below in this chapter. 

22. Padum. Now the Po. — Proconsulem .... habuerant. Cf. 
2, 97, where Vitellius' proconsular government of Africa is commend- 
ed as integrum ac favor ab Hem. See also Suet. Vitel. 5. 

23. A IVerone .... exciti, etc. Cf. 6, where the same thing is 
mentioned. 

25. Turn. Cf. note on it, 59. — Instinctu limits transiere. Ad 
verbum, cf. 57, note. 

26. Deciirionum. The leader of a decury, i. e. a body of ten 
men, was called decurio, as the commander of a century was a cen- 
turio. Cf. Smith's Diet. Autiq., word Army. 

28. In partes. To the party of Vitellius. 

29. Municipia. " Municipium is a free provincial city in Italy 
with its own laws and magistrates, generally also with Roman citizen- 
ship ; colonia, a Roman colonial city, which was granted to Roman 



BOOK I. 303 

Page 
citizens for colonization." Rams. 206. Compare both with urbs, caput on 

and civitas, 68, note. The coloniae were also afterwards called mu- 

nicipia, from which they differed only in origin. Cf. Smith's Diet., 

under Colonia. — Mediolanum. Now Milan. 

34r. Vexillis. Cf. 31, note. — Ala Petrina. Supposed to have 
derived its name from two illustrious Roman knights, who bore the 
cognomen of Petra and were put to death by Claudius. Cf. Ann. 11, 
4. It had been stationed in Cumberland, as appears by a lapidary in- 
scription set forth in Camden's Britannia. — Cunctatus. Supply est. 
Hesitated.— Num flecteret. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

3o. Ibi. This conjectural reading of Lipsius and Brotier is so well 
supported by the analogy of 2, 16 : trierarchum liburnicarum ibi navium, 
that I have ventured to receive it into the text. Rup. and Or. have 
urbi, Wr. and Dod. urbis, which are the readings of the MSS. But 
they include the word in brackets and pronounce it a manifest corrup- 
tion. A procurator of a city is an office unknown in Roman history. 

36. Concitis .... pontibus. Abl. abs. denoting the cause of 
putabatur. Render : because he had called together auxiliaries, etc. 

1. Certatum foret. Subj. in a subordinate clause of the oratio (J3 
obliqua. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603, c. 

2. Peuiiio itiiiere, i. e. super vel per jugum Alpium Peninaruin. 
Cf. note, 61. — Subsignanum militem = militem sub signis, or vexil- 
lis, alias vexillarios, for which see note, 31. They are here distin- 
guished from the legions, which served sub aquila, and seem to be 
treated with special indulgence in being allowed to take the easier 
route. The meaning of the word, which is post- Augustan, has been 
much disputed, but it probably designates the veterans described under 
No. 3, in the note on vexilla at chap. 31. It occurs in only one other 
passage in Tacitus, 4, 33. 

3. Hibernis = hiemantibus, nive conspersis. Rup. 

Ch. LXXI. — T. Composita implies something made up, assumed. 
Cf. 54, and places there cited. 

8. Vitia reditura. Cf. above, 21. 22. and 30. 

9. Marium .... subtraction. Cf. 45. 

1 1 • Titulus = praetextus. Bach. But Rup. and Or. make it 
= laus, gloria. 

13. Ultro imputavit. He even (cf. note, G. 20: ultro) reckoned 
it as a ground of obligation, or confidence on the part of Otho — in a 
word, he claimed credit for it as an example of good influence on 
others, and illustrating the steadfastness of his own loyalty. " When 
an author so expresses himself, we can but guess at his meaning." So 
Monboddo. But the obscurity results entirely from his lordship's ig- 
norance of the usus loquendi of T., as his criticism on the passage 
plainly shows. — Nee Otho, etc. Nor did Otho proceed as if he were 
pardoning an enemy, but lest the opposite party should excite in 



304 NOTES. 

Pa ff e 

/?o Celsus a fear as to the sincerity of the reconciliation, he treated him 
at once as a most intimate friend, i. e. as if there were no need of 
reconciliation. This is substantially Ritter's view of this much disputed 
passage. Dod. follows the same reading and gives essentially the 
same interpretation, but thinks the text requires some amendment. 
Other readings and other interpretations have been suggested too nu- 
merous to mention. But none of them give so good a sense as this, 
and none rest on much, if any, better authority of MSS. The reading 
of Wr., Rup. and Or., with several of the best MSS., is this : sod, ne 
hostes metueret, conciliationes adhibens. 
'16. Etiam pro Othone. Ut olim pro Galba. Rup. 
IT. Integra et infelix. Unwavering yet unfortunate, sc. be- 
cause those to whom he attached himself, were speedily ruined. Ob- 
serve the alliteration. 

1 8, In vulgus instead of vulgo for variety. 

1 9. Eandem .... irascebantur. Vera et notabilis gnome atque 
eadem in Liv. 5,26: eandem virtutem et oderant et mirabantur. 
Lipsius. 

Cii. LXXIL— 21. Sophonius Tigellinus. Cf. Ann. 14, 48. 51. 
57. 60 ; 15, 50 ; 16, 17, et al. : also Xiph. 64, 3 ; Plut. Oth. 2. 

23. Yigiluna. Cf. note on vigiliis, 20. — Quia velocius erat, sc. 
vitiis adipisci quam virtutibus. Alliteration again. 

25. Yirilia scelera. Facinora vires audaciamque virilis aetatis 
(virorum) desiderantia, ut caedes et similia. Ernesti. 

29. Desiderium. Regret for something lost. Cf. desiderabitur, 
chap. 16. Cupido is desire of acquisition. 

31. dementia is abl. of cause ; effugium, ace. in apposition with 
eum servaverat. See a similar enallage in G. 16: remedium .... in- 
scitia. Compare also munimentum, chap. 44. 

3T. Fora. Market-places. Besides the Forum emphatically so 
called, i. e. the Forum Romatium between the Palatine and Capitoline 
hills, there were several large fora in which public business was trans- 
acted, such as the Forum Julii, Forum Augusti, Forum Trajani, etc. ; 
besides which there were smaller market-places set apart each for 
some ptirlicular trade and named accordingly, e. g. forum boarium, 
olitorium, piscarium, etc. The word forum is allied toforas, and sig- 
nifies properly an open place, whether before some building or sur- 
rounded by temples, porticoes and other edifices. Cf. Smith's Diet, of 
Antiq., Forum. — Ubi refers to circum ac theatra. 

38. Donee .... foedavit. Here we have donee, until, with the 
ind. according to the rule, but contrary to the prevailing usage of T. 
Cf. notes, 1, 13. 35 ; 4, 35. 37. 
g^_ 1. Sinuessanas aquas. The baths of Sinuessa. Sinuessa, a 
town of Latium, on the confines of Campania, was much frequented 
for the salubrity of its waters. Cf. Ann. 12, 66 ; Plin. 31,4; Mart. 



BOOK I. 305 

Pag* 

11, 8. — Supremae necessitatis. Cf. note on these words, chap. 3, a a 
also exitus, ibid. 

Ch. LXXIIL— 6. Galvia Crispinilla. Cf. Xiph. 63, 12; also 
Plut. Galb. Al. Calvia. Cf. note, chap. 3 : prodigia. — Frustration- 
ibus. Artifices, which is the primary meaning of the word (from 
fraus). — Adversa . . . . fama. Much to the disgrace of the dissem- 
bling emperor. Frustrationibus is the means of exempta est, and 
adversa fama is an accompanying circumstance. 

8. In arma, sc. pro Nerone ulciscendo. Ernesti. For Clodius 
Macer, cf. 7, note. 

9. Famem molita, sc. by cutting off the usual supplies from 
Africa, which furnished Rome with corn for the larger part of every 
year. Cf. 3, 48, and note ibid. 

1 1 • Apud Galbam, i. e. in the reigns of Galba, etc. 

1 2. Orbitate. Cf. note on it, G. 20. — Bonis temporibus. Even 
under Augustus, Tacitus speaks of childless wealth as praevalida. 
Ann. 3, 25. 

Ch. LXXIV. — 15. Offerebant. Otho even offered to share the 
throne with Vitellius and become his son-in-law. Cf. Suet. Oth. 8 ; 
Xiph. 64, 10. 

IT. Legisset. Subj. Cf. note, 70: certatum foret. — Primo is 
antith. to mox. — Mollius. In milder terms, said of both parties in 
contrast with the reproaches they afterwards heaped upon each other. 

18. Q/uasi rixautes. Doderlein remarks, that the quasi is prop- 
erly prefixed to rixantes, because rixari strictly implies an oral and 
personal quarrel. 

20. Legatis. Cf. 19.— 21. Ad copias. Cf. 59 and 64. 

22. Specie Senatus. In the name of the senate, and with a 
specious show of its authority. 

23. Q,uam ut . . . . viderentur. Cf. note, 65: quam ut . . . . 
pugnaretur. 

24. Per simulationem officii. Under pretence of honoring 
them, sc. with a retinue, but really to watch over their fidelity. 

26. Addidit, sc. to these praetorians. 

29. Tanto, sc. tempore. It was in fact only thirteen days before, 
Vitellius having been nominated on the 2d of Jan. and Otho on the 
15th, but this is enough for soldiers to magnify into a long time. 

30. Vertissent. The subj. sets forth the sentiments of Fabius 
Valens: because, as he alleged, etc. 

3 2. Ideo. By that means; a sense peculiar to the later Latin. 
Ideo is also more frequently followed by a correlative particle, quod, 
quia, quoniam, ut, or the like. 

Ch. LXXV. — 34. Frustra, impime. Adv. for adj. Cf. 65 : zw- 
vicem; and A. passim. 

3T. Gnaris. Al. ignaris, which is the reading of the MSS. But 
26* 



306 NOTES. 

Page 

a A the antithesis, tnutua ignorantia, and the force of invicem certainly 
require gnaris : strange faces, where all knew each other, would of 
course betray the Othonian spies. But not so with the Vitellians at 
Rome, where almost all were mutually strangers. 

/?* 2. Domus utraque, sc. Vitellii sub Othone, Othonis sub Vitellio. 
It so happened, that the family connexions of Vitellius were at Rome, 
and at the mercy of Otho ; while those of Otho were in like manner 
at the disposal of Vitellius. 

Ch. LXXVL— 4. Primus addidit. First gave. The 

Latins use the adj. where we use the adv. of time. The news from 
Ulyricum was the first thing that imparted confidence to Otho. 

8. Aquitania. Southwestern Gaul. 

9. Diu mansit, sc. in fide. Cited by Doderlein as an example 
of praegnuntia. Cf. Essay, p. 16. 

11. Provinciam N arbonensem. Southeastern Gaul. 
13. Annoriim = exercituum. — Dirirnitur, sc. ab Italia. The 
reference is to the troops in Egypt, Asia, Africa, &c. 

15. Praetexto. Al. praetextu. Cf. specie senatus, chap. 74. 
The specious name, the pretended authority of the senate. Prae- 
textu m i.s not found before the age of Tacitus. Cf. Boetticher. 

16. Auditus also is a post- Augustan substantive, and is employed 
here in the unusual sense of auditio, report. The distant provinces 
and armies had heard of Otho's nomination, and acquiesced in it, be- 
fore they knew of Vitellius', though actually prior in order of time. 

20. Neque = ct non, et connecting the clause, and non qualify- 
ing cxspcctula. 

21. Proconsulis. Cf. note, 49 : pro consule. 

22. Nam . . . ? faciunt. Cf. notes, 13, and G. 25. 

24. Pleraque. Intellige ea, quae fieri solent sub initium novi 
imperii. Wr. — Festinavit. Cf. note on festinantur. G. 20. 

Ch. LXXVII. — 26. Distractis, sc. in contrarias partes. 

2T. Q,uidein gives emphasis to the comparison between Vitellius 
and Otho, and it shows the impropriety of attaching this clause to the 
previous section, as in the old editions. The antith. particle sed is 
understood before Otho. Cf. 3, note. Ernesti inserts at. 

28. Ctuaedam is the obj. of obibat, pleraque of proper ando, 
which is used instead of properans. 

30. In ... . Martias. Till the 1st of March, sc. from the com- 
mencement of his reign with the death of Galba, on the 15th of Jan- 
uary. Cf. 27. For the construction of Martias, cf. 12, note. The 
consulship was originally annual, and elective by the people ; but in 
the reign of Tiberius, the office becoming merely an honor conferred 
by the emperors (nominally by the senate, Ann. 1, 15), was held for 
only two months, there being of course 6 pairs (consules = col- 
leagues, cf. note, 1) during the year, those who held it for the first two 



BOOK I. 30*7 

Page 

months being called the ordinary consuls, and giving their name to£K 
the year. Cf. Die. Ant., Consul. The ordinary consuls for this year 
were Galba and Vinius. Cf. 1. But they being slain on the 15th 
of January, Otho and his brother were substituted (suffecti) to fill up 
their time to the 1st of March. 

33. Praetexto exhibits the reason alleged by Otho. Cf. 76, note. 

34r. Viennensium, to whom, therefore, wo infer that Vopiscus 
belonged, though the author nowhere states the fact. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

36. Sabinis attaches to both Caelio and Flavio, who had the same 
cognomen (cf. note, A. 4), and together with them is dat. after man- 
sere. Flavins Sabinus, consul elect, is a different man from Flavius 
Sabinus, brother of Vespasian, who was prefect of the city, Cf. 47, 
and 2, 55, with which compare 2, 36. Or. — Julias and Septembres 
agree with kalendas understood. Cf. 12. — Arrio Antonino. Mentioned 
by Pliny as a writer of verses in Greek and Latin. Cf. Epis. 4. 3. 
18. 5, 10. He was grandfather of Antoninus Pius the emperor. Or. 
For a synoptical view of the consulships for this year, see the table, p. 26. 

38. Pontificatus auguratusque. Ace. pi. in apposition with 
cumulum dignitatis. In the age of the emperors, the number of 
augurs and pontifices was indefinite, and the offices were conferred by 
the emperors on whom they pleased, but particularly on those who 
had already borne the highest civil honors. Though they had lost 
much of their pristine sanctity and power, still both the pontificate 
and the augurship were highly esteemed. The emperor himself was 
always pontifex maximus. For the etymology of the word, and fur- 
ther details, see Die. Gr. and Rom. Antiq., sub voce. 

1. Honoratis .... senibus. Any aged man who had already £CL 
been honored with the consulship and the like civil offices, but had not 
received the sacred offices of pontifex and augur. Wr. restricts it 
needlessly to those just mentioned, Caelius, Flavius, &c. — Aut dis- 
tinguishes between the treatment of the senibus on the one hand, 
and the adolescentulos on the other. Cf. note on aut, A. 17. The 
common editions have et. 

3. Recoluit. Iterum honoravit, vel iisdem, quibus avi ac patres 
fuerant ornati. Rup. Dod. makes sacerdotiis dative after recoluit, 
which he renders, restored to. And this construction seems to be 
justified by such passages as 3, 7 : recoli imagines Galbae jussit. 
Sacerdotium includes both the pontificate and the augurship. — Cadio 
Rufo. Cf. Ann. 12, 22. 

5. Repetundarum. Repetundae, or in full pecuniae repetundae, 
denotes — 1. Such sums of money as provinces or individuals might 
recover from Roman magistrates, who had improperly received the 
money in the discharge of any official function ; 2. The illegal act 
for which compensation was claimed. Here render : extortion, which 
is implied in avaritia, in the next clause. Cf. Fiske's Man. P. 3. 263. 



308 NOTES. 

Page 

ee 6. Ignoscentibus. Otho and the senate, or Otho and his advisers. 

T. Majestatem, sc. laesam. Majestas laesa or minuta was, 
under the republic, any offence against the majesty of the people or 
the state ; under the emperors, it was especially an offence against 
the imperial dignity. Anglice : treason, though majestas is more 
comprehensive than treason. Cf. Smith's Die. of Antiq. ; also Man. 
as above. To pardon the crime of majestas was now popular ; to 
pardon repetundae was unpopular. Hence the senators who were 
now restored to their seats were falsely alleged to have been con- 
demned for the former and not the latter offence. 

Cn. LXXVIII. — 9. Civitatum quoque, etc. Cities and prov- 
inces also, i. e. as well as Rome, to which the previous section 
relates. 

lO. Hispaliensibus et Emeritensibus. Hispalis and Emerita 
were Roman colonies in Spain, now Seville and Merida. The latter 
was so called from a colony of veteran soldiers (emeriti) led thither 
by command of Augustus. Cf. Dio. 53, 26. 

1 2. Baeticae. A province in the south of Spain. — Mavrorum 
civitates. In Mauritania, on the adjacent coast of Africa. These 
towns of the Mauri were placed under the jurisdiction of the Baetican 
province, and thus contributed to its revenues. 

13. Ostenta. Al. ostentui. These new rights were presented 
rather than permanent gifts, because, in the political changes which 
soon followed, they became null and void. 

15, Excusata. Al. excusatus. Cf. same word used in the same 
way, 7, note. 

16. Statuas .... reposuit. They had been thrown down by 
the populace, and replaced by Nero. Ann. 14, 61. On the death of 
Nero they were again removed, and now replaced a second time by 
Otho. On Poppaea, cf. note, 13, and places there cited. 

18. Spe .... alliciendi. Nero was popular with the multitude. 
Cf. 4. and 16. Suet. Ner. 57. — Qui . . . . proponerent, i. e. in locis 
publicis injussi ponerent. Ernesti. Ad rem, cf. Plut. Otho. Ad ver- 
bum, see it used in the same sense by Plin. 35, 4, 7 : tabulam pictam 
proposuit in latere curiae Hostiliae. Rup. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 6 ; Z. 561. 

19. Q,uibusdam diebus. On certain days, i. e. on public oc- 
casions. 

21. Neroni. Dat. in apposition with Othoni. Gr. 204, R. 8. 

22. Metu, pudore. Al. metum, pudorem. But the obj. of 
ienuit is understood, sc. the recognition of the title. 

Ch. LXXIX. — 24. Rhoxolani. A people north of the Palus 
Maeotis (sea of Azof), between the Tanais (Don) and the Borysthenes 
(Dnieper). — Sarmatica gens. Cf. note, G. 1. " The name of the 
Russ, or Russian, is clearly recognised in the Rhoxolani." Introd. to 
Webst. Die. Cf. Anthon's Class. Die. sub voce. 



BOOK I. 309 

Pa^e 

25. Ad denotes the place, quo tenderunt irrumpendo. Wr. ee 

26. Irruperant. Taken absolutely, i. e. without a direct obj. : 
had made an irruption. — Ex indicat causam originemque rei. Wr. 

30. Cupidine praedae shows the reason or motive of graves . . . 
sarcinarum, and explains the sarcinae to be not soldiers' packs, but 
loads of booty. The common reading, dispersi cupidine praedae, has 
no MS. authority. Dispersi denotes the scattered and disorderly 
manner in which the Sarmatians usually fight. 

33. Extra ipsos, sc. in pernicitate equorum, non in animo et 
corporis robore, ut hodie fere in tormentis bellicis. Ernesti. — Nihil. 
A strong expression for nulla alia gens. 

35. Obstiterit. Our potential (Gr. 260, II.), or a softened fu- 
ture. Z. 527. — 36. Usui is dat. after erant understood. 

3T. Equis and pondere are abl. of cause. 

4r. Facilis lorica. Al. facili. Active ponitur pro agili, habilijgj 
i. e. quiinusu alicujus rei sine labore versatur. Sic sermone promptus 
et facilis. Suet. Tib. 71. Wr. — Lorica, pilo, lanceis, gladio. Com- 
pare these military terms with note on galea and scutum, 38. — Ubi 
. . . posceret. Cf. note, G. 35. Subj. Cf. note, 66 : quotiens . . . deesset. 

12. Bello limits felix, with which supply fuisset, to which 
auxisset is connected by et. 

13. Ducibus. Per duces would be the ordinary way of express- 
ing the voluntary means or agency. The abl. represents human 
agents as mere tools. Cf. Gr. 247, R. 4 ; Z. 455. Note. 

Ch. LXXX. — 14. Initio is abl. of source after orta. For the con- 
tents of 80-85, cf. Plut. Oth. 3. 4 ; Suet. Oth. 8. 

15. Septimani .... cohortem. Cohorts, that did not belong to 
any legion, were numbered, like the legions themselves, and distin- 
guished by their number. 

16. Ostiensi. Ostia, formerly a town of note at the mouth of 
the Tiber, whence its name ; at this day it lies in ruins. It was 
founded by King Ancus. Cf, Liv. 1, 33 ; Dionys. 3, 44. 

IT. E praetorianis, sc. tribunis. One of the praetorian tribunes. 

18. Vacuus. More free from disturbance of every kind. — Quietis 
castris denotes time, viz. when the watch was set and the rest of the 
soldiers were in their tents. The castra here meant was the camp of 
the praetorians at Rome, whence arms were to be borne in vehicles to 
the Tiber and thence by ship to Ostia for the 17th cohort. So the 
following description shows (though it has been understood differently 
by some), and so Plutarch (Oth. 3) describes it. Cf. the jealousy of 
the praetorians towards their officers, 36. 

20. Tempus, sc. nox ; causa, i. e. res ipsa ; affectatio, i. e. sollers 
electio ; quietis, sc. militum in castris. Rup. — Causa perhaps rather 
denotes the object or intention. 

21. Affectatio properly denotes an aspiring to, or earnest seeking 



310 NOTES. 

Page 

ffffor. Cf. Ann. 2, 88 : regnum affect ans ; His. 2, 91 : plebis rumor em 
affectavit. The substantive is nearly confined to the post-Augustan 
prose. — Quietis here is explained by quiet is castris above. — Fuit, 
rather than evaluit, is appropriate to the first two clauses. Render : 
the time excited suspicion, the object aimed at was made a ground 
of accusation, and the special pains taken to find a quiet time be- 
came the occasion of a tumult. 

*&%• Sui, sc. arma. Sui is the gen. pi. of the reflexive. Cf. a 
similar sentiment in Odys. 16, 292 : avrbg yap tyfoxtrat avhpa aiSvpog, 
assigned by Ulysses to Telemachus as a reason for removing the armor 
of the drunken suitors out of their sight. Lipsius. Dod. thinks it an 
allusion to Homer. — Miles, sc. praetorianus. 

23. Familiae, i. e. servi. Cf. note, G. 15. 

25. In occasionem, denotes the end or aim (cf. A. 8: in famam, 
note), as ignari and cupidum express the state of mind in which the 
other classes acted. To make the construction regular, supply inten- 
tus before in. Cf. Essay, p. 17. But Tacitus prefers enallage. 

Ch. LXXXI. — 31. Celebre. Properly crowded (from cello, 
accXAw), frequented ; hence distinguished, celebrated. Either sense 
would be appropriate here. The former, however, is preferable. The 
latter signification is not found in Caesar and Cicero. Cf. Freund sub 
voce. Observe the use of the imperf. erat for an unfinished action. 

3 2. Fortuitusne .... foret. This whole member of the sentence 
depends on trepidus, which means trembling with uncertainty wheth- 
er, etc. Supply esset with furor and dolus. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

35. Detegi, sc. as mere pretenders to firmness, 
gg 1. Statim miserat denotes an act prior to jussit. Hence the 
pluperfect. — 2. Passim. From the part, of pando. 

5. Incerta. Unknown, untraceable. Cf. A. 38 : incerta fugae 
vestigia. 

Ch. LXXXII. — T. Militum .... irrumperent. Xiphilinus (64, 
9) represents this as the natural result of Otho's largesses, flattery and 
excessive familiarity with the soldiers. — Foribus attaches quidem to 
it, as being the emphatic word. The w 7 ord manifestly has the same 
root as the Gr. 66pa and the Eng. door. The same root is also found 
in German, Sanscrit, etc. Fores is properly the folds of the door ; 
porta the aperture. 

9. Martiale. When such adj. as these become proper names, 
they always have e in the abl. : as Juvenale, Martiale, etc. Z. 63, c. 

10. Praefecto legionis. An officer who, in the absence of the 
legatus legionis, took his place in the command, called elsewhere le- 
gioni praepositus. 2, 86 ; 3, 52. 

15. Toro. Couch; properly a soft cushion or pillow, then the 
whole sofa, couch, or bed. Rams, refers it to torqueo (622), where see 
it distinguished from lectus, cubile, etc. 



BOOK I. 311 

Page 

18, Populus, plebs. Cf. 35, and note, A. 43, where vulgus = eo 
plebs here. — 2Q. Licinius Proculus et Plotius Firmus. Cf. 46. 

22. Ut, with the subj. denoting result. — Quina .... nummum. 
Five thousand sesterces apiece. Nummum is gen. pi. for nummorum. 

23, Turn. Then at length, then only. Used just as in chap. 66, 
where see note. 

25. Otium et saluteni. Nam tribunus et centuriones a militi- 
bus obtruncati. Cf. 80. Brotier. Doderlein takes it as a request to 
be discharged, which derives some support from the abjectis .... in- 
signibus, as well as from the frequent use of otium by T. as the oppo- 
site of war. Cf. note, A. 11. But the use of salutem rather favors 
the interpretation of Brotier and Rup. They demanded safety for 
their persons, and order, tranquillity, in the camp. Otherwise (as 
they intimated by casting off their badges) they could not retain their 
offices. — Sensit invidiam. Felt the odium, or reproach, thus brought 
upon themselves. Invidia, primarily the averted look of hatred and 
envy (in negative and video). 

26. Conipositus. Used here and in 65, nearly in the sense of our 
word composed, quieted, calmed. For other senses, cf. 47 and 71 ; 
also A. 42 and 45, notes. 

Ch. LXXXIII. — 28. Ctuanquani non spectat ad sequens sed, ut 
videtur Ernestio ; cousequens (apodosis) potius est inde a verbis : pos- 
tremo ita disseruit. Wr. Ante postremo intelligendum tamen. Rup. 
Quanquam turbidis rebus = quanquam turbidae res erant, etc. 

30. Et plures = iique plures. Ernesti. " Always the greatest 
number." Murphy. — Ambitioso imperio. Imperial power obtained 
by solicitation of the multitude. Cf. note on ambitionem, 1. 

3 2. Xon posse .... retineri. Cf. the same sentiment prophet- 
ically uttere€ in the speech of Galba, 30. 

34. Sed .... anxius. Antithetic to simul reputans. Wr. 

I. Tumultus .... iuitiuni, sc. excitatum est, implied in the an- gQ 
tithetic clause nimia .... excitavit. So veni above is understood in 
the first clause, and expressed only in the antithesis. 

4. Acrius .... considerate. Al. consideratius. T. uses both 
constructions. Cf. A. 4: vehementius quam caute ; 2,24: avidius 
quam consultius. The regular Latin construction is that with two 
comparatives. Cf. Z. 690. 

II. Etiam . . . . tribunosque. Even the centurions and tri- 
bunes, much more common soldiers. — Tantum juberi. Receive com- 
mands only, without reasons. 

13. Et illic. Even there, i. e. under such circumstances, as 
have been described. 

15. Neque .... crediderim. For I cannot believe — would not 
willingly, i. e. will not, believe. Cf. 79 : obstiterit. The subj. perf. 
used to soften an assertion. Gr. 260, 11, R. 4; Z. 527. 



312 NOTES. 

Page 

r»Q Ch. LXXXIV. — IS. Pro. Primarily before; hence, as here, in 
defence of, or in behalf of. Observe the conciseness, fecistis being 
omitted. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

26. Fortissinius quietissimus. Ad rem., cf. Horn. II. 

2, 8 ; 4. 429. 

33. Xon hercule illi .... Germani. Not even those German 
barbarians, still less you. Hercule is voc. ; sometimes mehercule, 
which is an ellipsis for ita me, Hercule, juves (cf. Z. 361, note) ; or, 
according to Freund, the me is only a demonstrative prefix for empha- 
sis. Cf. Freund sub voce ce. — Cum maxime. Cf. note on it, 29. 

35. Depoposcerint. Cf. 83 : crediderim; 79: obstiterit. This 
use of the subj. is much more frequent in the later than in the earlier 
Latin. " The perf. subj., when used independently, usually has the 
meaning of a softened future." Z. 527. Zumpt suggests, by way of 
explaining this meaning, that the same form is probably used both for 
the subj. perf. and the subj. of the fut. perf., e. g. depoposcerim = 
subj. both of depopoBci and dcpoposcero. It does not necessarily im- 
ply doubt. Cf. Cic. Brut. 6 : Hoc sine ulla dubitatione confirmaverim, 
etc. In such questions as this it implies a negative answer. Cf. note, 
30 : mereretur. The use of the perf. subj. after ut and ne (as in utque 
sic dixcrim, G. 2) is entirely peculiar to the silver age. 

3 7. Praestringimus = obumbramus. Al. perstringimus, which 
is the reading of the MSS., and is retained by Rup. in the sense of 
hebetamus. The departure from the MSS. is justified by Wr., from 
the frequent and easy confounding of those two syllables. — Nationes, 
imaginem .... exercitus, senatus. Notice the position of these em- 
phatic words in their respective clauses. 
rjc\ 2. Constiteriiit. Subj. as usual after the impers. verb. Cf. Gr. 
' U 262, R. 3. • 

3. Domibus. Properly generic, = buildings; tectis, roofs. Ac- 
cumulated here for emphasis, rather than for distinction. This speech 
abounds in such emphatic accumulation of words nearly synonymous, 
e. g. scditionem et discordiam, sanguinem et caedem, splendore et 
gloria, sordes et obscurilatem. 

4. Stare = constare, consistere. Cf. Essay, pp. 10. 11. Ad sen- 
tentiam, compare Liv. 5, 54 ; Dio. 56, 5. 

5. Promiscua sunt, agreeing with muta istam the nom. ; instead 
of promise uum est agreeing with the clause. Render: whether these 
mute and inanimate objects fall or are rebuilt is a matter of indif- 
ference. It is a case of attraction, resembling the Greek. Cf. Essay, 
p. 18. — Aeternitas rerum. The perpetuity of the empire. 

T. Auspicato. The Romans undertook no great enterprise with- 
out first ascertaining the will of the gods by auspices. Religion, deeply 
seated in the breasts of the people, was the most powerful engine both 
of war and of state. This speech is highly characteristic, and plays 



BOOK I. 313 

Page 

upon the passions and the prejudices of the soldiers with much of then f\ 
same skill as that recorded in 37-8. 

Ch. LXXXV. — 12. Et oratio. Et is correlative to et before se- 
veritatis. Both his address and his moderation were well received. 
Observe accepta nom. pi. neuter agreeing with two subs., one masc, 
the other fern. 

16. Strepitus .... mllitibus. Such is the reading of the best 
MSS. Al. strepitus telorum et fades belli erat militibus, which is 
adopted in the common editions with a colon after erat. Various oth- 
er emendations have been suggested. But it may be read as it is, 
and the conciseness and enallage of the text go to substantiate its gen- 
uineness. Strepitus .... belli is one reason for non quies redierat ; 
et militibus, etc., is another. The former is expressed in the nom., 
the latter is the regular abl. of cause. 

18. Occulto kaoitu, i. e. in the guise of citizens or countrymen, 
and acting the part of spies. — Maligna cur a. Evil intentions. Dod. 
refers occulto habitu also to the concealment of their feelings, animi 
being understood by pragnantia. Cf. Essay, p. 16. 

23. In publico. Ant. to seer eta domuum. 

24. Attulisset. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569.— Conversis. 
Al. conversi. But conversis is found in the Medicean and nearly all 
the other MSS. It is abl. of cause or manner with hominibus under- 
stood: But there was the greatest agitation in public, when (or since) 
men changed (lit. men being changed as to) their feelings and coun- 
tenances with every report which rumor brought, sc. from Vitellius. 

26. Modus. The juste milieu, happy mean. What follows is 
thus paraphrased by Lipsius: Taceres? silentium pro contumacia 
esset. Diceres libere? invisa libertas. Ad gratiam loquerere? non 
faceres fidem, quia privatus nuper Otho peritus harum rerum et iisdem 
adulationibus exercitus. 

2T. Ne for the more common but less concise ut non. Cf. Essay, 
p. 10. 

29. Sententias. Their opinions given in the senate-house. 

Ch. LXXXVI. — 34. Auctoribus. For ab auctoribus. Cf. Gr. 
225, 13. 

35". Omissas, i. e. dropped from the hands of the goddess, as if she 
were unable to hold them. Cf. Piut. Oth. 4. See also, touching these 
prodigies, Suet. Oth. 8 ; aud Xiph. 64, 7. 

36. Cella. Primarily a storeroom (from celo). Secondarily the 
interior of a temple. In the Capitoline temple there were three dis- 
tinct cellae under the same roof, with common partition-walls, viz. 
that of Jupiter in the centre, that of Minerva on the right, and that of 
Juno on the left. Render : chapel of Juno. 

38, Immoto. Undisturbed by earthquake, or storm, or any natu- 
ral cause of such a phenomenon. Cf. Plut. in loc. cit. — In Orientem. 



314 NOTES. 

Page 

Betokening the elevation of Vespasian, in whose reign this prodigy 
was doubtless fabricated. Cf. Plut. as above. 
71 3. In nietu. Sic jfi pace, in hello, de tempore. Igitur in metu 
= eo tempore, ubi metuitur. Wr. In time of danger. Ad rem, cf 

note, 4, 26: quod vocabaiur. — Audiuntur. The subj. hero 

would make this clause a part of the common talk (vulgata) at Rome. 
The ind. is used to set forth the views of the author. 

5. Prorupto. Observe the force of pro : broken down and swept 
along. — Ponte sublicio. A bridge of beams, resting on piles, built 
over the Tiber by Ancus Marcius. The Romans felt a religious scru- 
ple about driving a nail in it. Plin. 36, 15 ; Liv. 1, 33.37 ; 2, 10.40. 51. 

lO. Insularum. Blocks of buildings, detached from other edifi- 
ces (hence their name) and rented to several occupants. The word 
sometimes denotes simply hired buildings. Cf. Smith's Diet. 

13. Via Flaminia. The great northern road (as the Appian 
was the southern), reaching from Rome to Ariminum on the Gulf of 
Venice ; made by Flaminius, a. u. c. 533. 

14. Esset obstructum. The subj. sets forth the view of the 
multitude. 

Ch. LXXXVIL— IT. Lustrata urbe. The city of Rome, and 
other towns within its dominion, always underwent a lustratio after 
they had been visited by some great calamity, such as civil bloodshed, 
awful prodigies and tho like. Lustratio was originally a purification 
by ablution in water (from luo, Gr. Aouu>). But in the lustration of Ro- 
man cities, armies, fields, etc., as left on record, the chief thing was 
the offering of sacrifices, which were carried three times round the 
persons or things to be purified. Cf. Smith's Diet, of Antiq., under 
Lustratio. — Expensis. Lit. weighed out, hence pondered, considered, 
matured. 

19. STarbonensem Galliam, which had revolted to Vitellius. Cf 
76, where see note. 

21. Reliquos, sc. classicorum. — Caesorum. Cf. note, 6. — Pontem 
Mulcium. Al. Milvium. A bridge over the Tiber, two miles from 
Rome, on the Via Flaminia, now Ponte-Molle. It is not agreed 
whether the name denotes the bridge of Mulvius, or the Kites-bridge. 

22. Habitos in custodiam. Observe the ace. after habitos in, 
like our had into custody. Compare adhibito, 1, 14, and note ibid. 
Habeo (from aVw, aitrui) strictly implies motion, and hence may be 
followed by in with the ace. Cf. Dod. Synonyms, where he makes 
habere = geben, give. Boetticher makes this clause = in custodiam 
datos et in ea habitos by zeugma. — Numeros. Cf. note on it, 6. — 
Composuerat. Had enrolled. 

23. Et ceteris, sc. classicis. To the rest of the marines also. 
24:. Plerosque. Very many. — E praetorianis. Selected from 

the praetorian cohorts, perhaps the vexillarii. Cf. 31. 



BOOK I. 315 

Page 

25. Consilium = cousiliarios, abs. for cone. Consilium and cus- nr-i 
todes, like vires and robur, are in appos. with plerosque. The select 
praetorians were sent to advise and watch the commanders, as in the 
case of the ambassadors above, 74. 

26. Summa expeditionis. The whole enterprise, i. e. the su- 
preme command of both army and navy. 

27. Aemilio Pacensi. Dismissed by Galba. Cf. 20. 

29. Retinebat. Continued to hold. Appointed probably to re- 
pair the fleet {cur am navium). But his office, which would properly 
have ceased when the fleet sailed, was prolonged. Gronovius. — Co- 
mitatus. Al. immutatus, invitatus, incitatus, impositus, simul datus, 
etc., etc. The reading is mere guesswork. The sense is obvious with 
or without either of the words. 

34:. Maturitatem. Ripeness of judgment and experience. This 
accords with his subsequent history, e. g. 2, 23. 33. 44. Ut cuique erat. 
According to their several characters. Proculus seized upon their 
characteristic virtues and misrepresented them as vices. 

Ch. LXXXVIIL— 3 7. C. Dolabella. Cf. 2, 63-4; Plut. Galb. 
23 ; Suet. Galb. 12. 

38. Coloniam Aquinatem. Aquinum, a town of the Volsci, in 
Latium ; now Aquino, but almost in ruins. — Neque obscura. Yet 
manifest. 

4. L. Vitellium. Brother of the emperor Vitellius. Cf. note^2 
on domus utraque, 75. 

6. Motae .... curae. Al. mota .... cura. The MSS. are about 
equally divided between the two readings. Wr. prefers motae .... 
curae, as less ambiguous, and expressing definitely the thing here 
meant, viz. the anxieties of the citizens. 

7. Metu aut periculo = metu et periculo, i. e. by hendiadys 
metu periculi. So Roth. But au t implies a specific difference : fear 
or real danger, or inverting the order, as we should, real danger on 
the one hand, or at least the fear of it on the other. So Wr. and Rup. 

13. Irritamenta libidinum. Cf. delenimenta vitiorum, A. 21. 
—Mercarentur. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 6; Z. 561. 

15. Afflicta fide. Abl. of quality equivalent to an adj. and used 
as predicate of multi: Many had lost their credit in time of peace 
(tranquillity). 

16. Per incerta. In an unsettled state of things. 

Ch. LXXXIX.— IT. Vulgus populus. Cf. note, 82: po- 

pulus, plebs. — Magnitudine nimia is the cause of expers : and the 
people too numerous to share in the concerns of the public. 

19. Intentis. Increased. Cf. 24 : intendebat, note. 

20. Haud perinde. Not so much, as now. Haud is the Gr. o<>5\ 
23. Res .... composuit = potentiam domus Caesareae fundavit. 

Rup. — Unius, sc principis. 



316 NOTES. 

»ro 25. Pacis .... reipublicae. Paris \s objective, and reipublicae 
subjective gen. after adversa (cf. proditionis ira militum, 3, 10) : 
those evils which the republic experiences in time of peace, i. e. popular 
commotions and imperial cruelty. Reipublicae cannot be dat. after 
pertinuere, which always takes ad or in with the ace. after it. Hence 
some read in rempublicam ; others expunge reipublicae, though found 
in all the MSS. P ertimuere is found instead of pertinuere in several 
MSS., but not the best. Pertinuere = duravere according to Wr. 
But w T hy not take it in the more usual sense of reached, belonged to, 
or affected, sc. the people? Tacitus' use of pertinere may be seen in 
3, 19 : Expugnatae urbis praedam ad militem, deditae ad duces, per- 
tinere. Dod. makes reipublicae dat. (for ace. with ad) after perti- 
nuere. 

26. Scriboniaui .... incepta. Cf. Ann. 12, 52 ; Suet. Claud. 
13 ; Dio. GO, ]5. 

30. A tergo. The East followed Otho ; the West, Vitellius. 

3 2. Nonduiu .... ancilium. The sacred shields, made in im- 
itation of the golden ones sent down from heaven to Numa by the 
nymph Egeria. At different times, during the month of March, these 
were borne through the streets by the Salii, and finally laid up (con- 
ditorum) in the curia of the Salii, on the Palatine mount. The days 
set apart for this ceremony were sacred, and no public business might 
be transacted. Cf. Ovid, Fast. 3, 2G0, seq. ; Pint. Numa, etc. 

Cir. XC— 3T. Reliquias .... sectionum. Cf. 20. 
>7Q 2. Usu sterili. Al. sterile. Parum interest ; sed maneat veteri- 
bus libris sua auctoritas. Wr. Sterili usu is abl. of quality after do- 
num. Cf. stcrilis pax, Ann. 1, 17. 

6. Ipsius. His own. — Scriptor orationis, sc. Galerius Trachalus, 
who was an orator and joint consul with Silius Ital. a. u. c. 821. Cf. 
2, 60. 64; Suet. Vitel. 6 ; Quintil. 10, 1, 119*et al. Sic Nero Senecae 
ingenio utcbatur. Ann. 13, 3. Rup. 

9. Otlionem uti credebatur. A Greek construction, not uncom- 
mon with Tacitus, for Otho uti credebatur. Cf. note, 50 : crederetur. 

10. Genus .... orandi, sc. Trachali. 

11. Latum. Copious. Opposed by Cic. (Brut. 31) to contractum. 
13. Dictatorem. Julius Caesar. 

15. Ut in familiis, sc. servcrum. Cf. G. 15, note. The passage 
is well explained by Ernesti. Populus serviendi amore eadem faciebat, 
quae in privatis aedibus familia servorum solet: utilitatis cura est sin- 
gulis, nulla dignitatis ac decoris. 



BOOK II. 

Pa^e 

Ch. I. — 2« Laeturn, sc. under Vespasian and Titus ; airox, undoing 
Domitian ; prosperum, to Vespasian ; exitio, to Titus and Domitian, 
who both died a violent death. The dynasty of Vespasian is here 
meant by imperio. 

5. Maturam . . . . juventani. Titus was now in his twenty- 
eighth year. 

6. Fereoat = praeferebat, set forth, exhibited. 

T« Disperserat. Only T. applies this word to the spreading of 
reports. 

9. Donee .... eligatur. Cf, note, 1, 13 : donee .... amoliretur. 
— Destinandi. Objective gen. after intemperantia. 

11. Majestate. Titus was brought up in the court with Britan- 
nicus, the son of Claudius. Cf. Suet. Tit. 2. 

1 2. Praesaga responsa. Suet. ibid. Praesaga is a poetical word. 

13. Corinthi urbe. Cf. Gr. 204, R. 7 ; Z. 399. This use 

of the gen. is explained by some as an old form of the abl. (Corinthoi, 
Gr. KopivOoi = KopivOy) ; by others, as an ellipsis of urbe, loco, or some 
other abl, which like the dat. in Gr. is the proper where-co.se. Z. 398. 

1G. Adliibitis. Cf. note on adhibito, 1, 14; and on habitos, 1, 
87. — Pergeret. Cf. note on pergit, 1, 27. 

19. Incerta .... victoria is abl. of cause with excusatum, with 
which supply the auxiliary for the fut. pass, infin., viz. iri. Cf. Essay, 
p. 14. 

21. Rempublicarn susciperet, sc. regendam. 

Ch. II. — 23. Jactatuin, sc. Titum. Al. jactato, because hope 
prevailed not over Titus, but over fear. But in thus prevailing, it also 
bore sway in the breast of Titus. 

1. Berenices. The Bernice of Scripture (Acts, 25, 13. 23 ;77 
26, 30) : famed for her beauty and incest (Suet. Tit. 7 ; Juv. 6, 156). 
She was daughter of Agrippa the Elder, wife of her uncle Herod, and 
at the time she heard Paul, was probably living in incest with her 
brother Agrippa the Less. 

5. Igitur = Gr. ouv ; Under these circumstances. Cf. note on it, 
A. 13. 

6. Ac laeva maris. Exegetical of oram Achaiae et Asiae, which 
lay to the left, us Titus sailed from Corinth towards Syria. — Praevectus. 
Coasting along. Al. praetervectus. But T. uses prae for praeter in 
such combinations. Cf. A. 26. — Cyprum. Copper derives its name 
from Cyprus, where it is found in great abundance. 

27* 



318 NOTES. 

Page 

tjij T. Audentioribus spatiis. With bolder courses. With this po- 
etical use of spatiis compare Cicero's use of it for turns or courses in 
walking. Cic. de Or. 1, 7, 28. Antith. to praevectus .... or am. 
Previous to the invention of the compass, sailors feared to lose sight of 
the shore. Titus was daring because he was impatient. 

8. Templum .... inclitum. Cf. Strabo, 14 ; and Herod. 1, 105 : 
also Virg. Aen. 1, 415. There was also in the island another less fa- 
mous temple of Venus, who took the epithet Cyprian from the extent 
of her worship by the pleasure-loving Cyprians. — Paphiae Veneris. 
Paphos, in the isle of Cyprus, was sacred to the worship of Venus. 

9. Haud fuerit. It will not be, etc. Cf. note, 83 : neque cre- 
diderim ; and 84 : depoposcerint. 

10. Templi ritum. Al. situm, but the site of the temple T. 
does not describe. On the word templum, cf. notes, 1, 27 ; and G. 9 : 
cohibere parietibus. 

11. Habetur, sc. religio, templi ritus et forma deae. Murphy 
avails himself of this digression to vindicate T. from the charge of irre- 
ligion. 

Ch. III. — 14, A Cinyra. De Cinyra, vid. Athenaeus, 1, 10; 
Aelian, G. 36. Rup. 

15. Couceptam mari. Sprung from the (foam of the) sea; 
hence her name 'Aippodirr}. — Appulsam. Wafted. 

16. Haruspicutn. Cf. note, 1, 27. — Accitam. Introduced from 
abroad. — IT. Faniiliae utriusque, i. e. of Cinyras and Thamiras. 

19. Hospites. The foreigners. Ad verbum, cf. note, G. 21. 

20. Cinyrades. The descendant of Cinyras. — Hostiae. Slain 
for inspection of the entrails, not to be burned upon the altar, which 
was prohibited. Cf. the use made of the compluribus hostiis slain by 
Titus, 4. 

22. Haedorum, animalium libidinosorum. Rup. — Fibris. En- 
trails. 

23. Adolentur. Adolere proprie est olentem reddere cremando, 
et hinc cremare. Bach. It is also used poetically in the sense to load 
with offerings. The sentence does not bear a literal translation into 
English. Render: Supplications and a pure flame of fire are the 
only offerings on the altar. The distinction between ara and altare 
(for which see Lexicon) is not here observed. — Nee ullis imbribus, etc. 
Pliny makes the same statement, N. H. 2, 96. 

25. Continuus orbis, etc. Stripped of its verbiage (cf. note on 
description of Britain, A. 10), this description imports simply : in the 
shape of a rude cone. Max. Tyr. (8, 7) likens it to a white pyramid. 
On the position of in, cf. Z. 324. Continuus, uninterrupted by arms, 
neck, head, etc., like most idols. 

26. Ratio in obscuro. Probably there was no reason for it, but 
the rudeness of the early times in which it originated. Ernesti. 



BOOK II. 319 

Page 

Ch. IV. — 29. De navigatione primum. Antith. to de se. nrr 

30. Per ambages. In terms properly guarded. Murphy. 

34. Petito secreto. At a secret interview. Murphy. Lit. 
seeking a retired apartment. Cf. note, A. 39. 

36. Fiducia = causa fiduciae. So fides is used, chap. 5, and 4, 
85. — Profit? gaverat. Had almost finished. Cf. note on it, G. 13. 

1. Superstitioms. Ad verbum, cf. note, 3, 57. — Quo. Al. quod. 78 
But quo = eo quod. Cf. Cic. Fin. 4, 2. Subj. after quam. Gr. 264, 
4; Z. 5G0. 

7. Inexperti .... labor, Al. inexpertus, but without MS. au- 
thority. One MS. has labor es. Intellige severitatem disciplinae in 
pace inexorabilem (1, 51). The two things contrasted are the labors 
and dangers of war, and the toil and discipline of an uninterrupted 
peace. Wr. ~ 

Ch. V. — 11. Si . . . . posceret. The imperf. subj. follows the 
historical inf., and even the present ind., when used for the historical 
tense. 

1 2. Fortuito = Gr. rS tvxovti. Such as chanced to fall in his 
way, hence common. 

16. Sermone. Al. sermoni. But aptior sermone = perfectior 
in dicendo. Rup. — Dispositu provisuque. Words found only in Taci- 
tus. Cf. Boetticher.— Peritus. Cf. Gr. 213, R. 4, (5). 

IT. Si ... . miscereiitur. If they had been united. Imperf. 
subj. used, as it often is, where we use the plup. Cf. Gr. 260, R. 2 ; 
Z. 525. The writer transports his reader into the past and represents 
it as present. 

19. Vicinis provinciarum, instead of vicinarum provinciarum. 

25. Industria .... per voluptates, are the various motives by 
which they were influenced, all characters finding something to at- 
tract them either in Vespasian or in Mucianus. 

26. Asciscebantur* Were brought over, or attached to their 
party. 

Ch. VI. — 31. Civium arma. Civil wars. 

33. Trans mare. Across the Mediterranean and into the East 

36. Minae. Slight conflicts. Ad rem, cf. Ann. 15, 24. 27. — 
Proximo .... bello. Between Vindex and Nero. 

3T. Iiiconcussa is not found prior to the age of T. Cf. Boetticher 
and Freund. 

3. Septem legiones. The four of Mucianus and the three of^Q 
Vespasian. Cf. 1, 10. — Statim. At hand (from sto) ; inde, on that 
side ; hinc, on this : these three words are correlative. 

4:. Continua = contermina. 

5. Q,uicquid .... Armeniis* And all the forces , lit. camps, 
that stretch along the frontier of the Armenias, sc. the Greater and 
the Less- 



320 NOTES. 

tjQ 6. Praetenclere is little used in this literal and physical sense, ex- 
cept by the poets. Prose writers use it chiefly in the sense of to cover 
or cloak. 

1. Sec viroruin, etc. Nee = el uon, and correl. to et before pe- 
cuniae. Cf. note on neque . . . . et, 1, 15. — Pecuniae is gen. Gr. 213. 
— Quantum .... cingitur. All the islands of the sea, i. e. the Med- 
iterranean. The predicate is omitted here (as it is also in several of 
the foregoing clauses), viz. were on their side. 

8. Interim, sc. between the present and the time of decisive action. 

Cn. VII. — 11* Victores, etc. The reader will perceive, that 
these are the considerations that influenced the Flavian leaders to 
delay. The motives of men's conduct are set forth by T. with no 
less distinctness and fulness than their actions. 

13. Faceret. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

14:. Etiam egregios duces- Even illustrious commanders, still 
more those, who, like Oth. and Vitel., were discordes, ignavi and 
luxuriosi. 

IT. Nuper. Ant. to olim, and like olim limiting mixtis consilris. 
— Mixtis consiliis, amore rcipublicae, dulcedo praedarum, etc., are 
the motives which influenced them, not to delay, but to watch an op- 
portunity for action. — Optimus quisque, sc. stimulabantur. Cf. noto 
on tumult us i nit i inn, 1, 83. 

19. Stimulauat is to be connected logically, not with distulere, 
but with in orcfisionem. — Ambiguae .... res need not be confined to 
pecuniary circumstances, it may include all private occasions of dis- 
comfort or danger. 

Cn. VIII. — 22. Velut, in Cic, means for example. JJy the later 
writers, it is used in the same sense as quasi, and followed by the subj. 
Cf. Z. 282. 572 ; Gr. 263, 2. The imperf. subj. here implies, that Nero 
was not to make his appearance. Ad rem, cf. note on falsi Neronis 

ludibrio, 1, 2.— Vario rumore. Cf. Xiph. 63, 27. 29 ; Suet. Ner. 

48. 49. Super, when followed by the abl., always means concerning. 
Z. 320. 

24. Ceterorum, sc. falsorum Neronum. — In context u operis. In 
the course of this work, now lost. 

26. Unde .... fides. For Nero valued himself more on his 
skill in music than in government. Cf. Ann. 14, 14 ; 15, 44, et al. 
Propior here, as often in T., denotes tendency. The credulity of the 
multitude was the more easily imposed upon, because this slave besides 
resembling Nero in his looks, was also a skilful musician. 

29. Cythiium* One of the Cyclades in the iBgean. 

30. Et militum. Correlative to et negotiatoribus. He took 
measures to procure both men and money. 

QQ Ch. IX. — 3. Datae. Assigned him (at his setting out for his* 
provinces), ad prosequendum to attend him as an escort. — Misenensi. 



BOOK II. 321 

Page 

Misenum was the principal naval station of the Romans on the west, nr\ 
as Ravenna was on the east. 

4. Tenuit. Reached, arrived at. Cf. portum tenuit, A. 38. 
Calpurnius happened to touch at the island on his way east, just at 
this time. 

5. Trierarchos. The captains of the triremes. — Accirent. Subj. 
Cf. Gr. 264, 6 ; Z.561. — In maestitiam compositus. Cf. 1, 54. Also A. 42. 

7. tit eum for the more common ut se, to avoid ambiguity. Dod. 

8. Dolo. Enallage for dolosi, or dolose agentes. Rup. 

9. Firinaverunt for affirmaverunt. Cf. Essay, pp. 10, 11. 

11. Navis. Qua falsus Nero pervenerat, quamque conscenderat 
inde abiturus. Rup. 

Ch. X. — 16. Vibius Crispus. A celebrated orator, Dial, de 
Or. 8. 13 ; Quintil. 5, 13. 6, 2. et al. ; and informer, Suet. Dom. 3 ; 
Juv. 4, 81, and at the close of this section. He accumulated immense 
wealth. 

23. Ad hoc terroris. In addition to this source of terror, sc. 
the senatus consultum. — Et propria vi. With his personal influ- 
ence also, i. e. pecunia, potentia, ingenio. 

24. Sui fratris, sc. Vibius Secundus, convicted of extortion. 
Ann. 14, 28. 

26. Aeque .... quam. Cicero says aeque . . . . et or ac. In 
like manner T. uses perinde .... quam ; Cic. perinde . . . . et or ac. 

Ch. XL— 36. E Daimatia Paimoniaque. Cf. 1. 76. 

2. Rebellione .... compressa is the cause of praecipui. Al. Q1 
praecipue. 

7. Q,uinque .... cohortes. Comprising 5000 men. Cf. note 
on praetorio, 1, 20. — Equitum vexilla. Cf. note on vexilla, 1, 31. 

8. Legione prima. That which Nero enlisted from the marines, 
1,6.; called prima Adjutrix below, 43. 

11. Vestricio Spuriima. Egregius et dux et poeta. Plin. 
Ep. 2, 7. 3, 1. 10. 

12. Q,uoniam (= quum jam), properly introduces a motive, 
rather than a logical reason. Cf. note, 1. 31 : quia. 

15. Lecta corpora. Picked men. Corpora used like Gr. 
cupara. Cf. Xen. Mem. 3, 5, 2. Demosth. de Cor. 23. — Ceteris 
praetoriis, i. e. four cohorts, for there were nine in all. 1, 20. — Vete- 
rani e praetorio. Distinguished from the praetorians, for though at- 
tached to that body, they did not belong to it ; same as the vexillarii. 
Cf. 1, 31. 

18. Horridus refers to the person; incomptus to the dress. 
Dod. In virium ac roboris above, Or. refers vires to number ; robur 
to valor.— Famae. Cf. 1, 22. 71. 

Ch. XII. — 20. Mare et naves. Hendiadys for naves mare te- 
nentes. Roth. 



322 NOTES. 

Page 

Q1 21. Maritimarum Alpium. Cf. note, 1, 61. Maritime Alps 
was the name, not only of the mountains, but of a province in North- 
western Italy, bordering on Gallia Narbonensis, of which see notes, 
1, 76. 87. 

22. Tentandis. Lit. testing them, i. e. their friendsbip and 
enmity, and then treating them accordingly. 

27. Adversus .... corruptus, i. e. sacrificing rigid discipline to 
his desire of popularity. 

28. lioca sedesque. A pair of kindred words for emphasis. 
31* Occursantes . . . . liberos. The owners, going forth to- 

gether with their wives and children, to meet the invaders, etc. 

36. Q,uibus. Dat. after esset. For the subj. cf. note, 1, 29 : 
ut qui, etc. ; also 1, 37. 
82 Cn. XIII. — 2. Albium Intemelium. Now Vintimiglia, south- 
west of the territory of Genoa, with a port on the Mediterranean. 
Or. has Albintimilium, as approaching nearer to the reading of the 
Medicean MS. 

5. Femina Ligus. A Ligurian ivoman. Intemelium was in 
Liguria. 

6. Cum. Causale = since, hence followed by the subj. Observe 
the accurate discrimination of time in the plup. (credidisset) and the 
imp. (intrrro<rarcnf), where wo should use the imperf. in both places. 
The plup. denotes the original motive, and the imp. the subsequent 
action. Occulcrct is the subj. in an indirect question. 

8. Latere. Inf. of lateo. MS. Agr. hie latere. Sed illud hie 
inutile est juxta verba uterum ostendens. Wr. The mother of 
Agricola was put to death by this same party. Cf. A. 7. But our 
author makes no allusion to it in his history. 

Ch. XIV. — 11. In verba .... adactae. Ad rem, cf. 1, 76. 
Ad verba, 1, 36. The full formula is found in Csesar, e. g. B. C. 2, 
18: provinciam omnem in sua et Pompeii verba jus jurandum adige- 
bat. The shorter form (omitting jusjurandum) is peculiar to Tacitus 
and Suetonius. Cf. Freund, sub adigo. 

16. Forojuliensi. Cf. A. 4, note. The mole and entrance- 
tower of the old harbor now rise out of a plain of grass. Arnold's 
Letters, 206. 

IT. Vacuo mari. The Vitellians had no fleet; hence they 
must leave some of their land forces to defend their seaports from the 
attacks of Otho's fleet. 

20. Nondum sub signis. Milites auxiliarii in Pannonia a Vitellio 
nuper conscripti, sed nondum in cohortes divisi. Rup. 

21. Acie .... instructa, sc. Othonianorum. This clause, to- 
gether with ut .... praetendcretur, is the protasis, and Vitelliani 
.... locant the apodosis. 

22. Ctuantum is the subject of esset understood, and its antece- 



book ii. 323 

Paffe 

dent is the object of expleret. Observe the emphatic position of zraQO 
ipso mari before ut. 

24. Conversa et minaci fronte, ita, ut non puppes obverteret 
litori ut in pace, sed proras et rostra, ut in proeliis et oppugnationibus 
fieret. Ernesti. 

26. Alpinos here includes, according to Wr. and Dod., both the 
Pannonians and the Ligurians mentioned above. 

31. Audebant. The ind. is used in this clause (though it follows 
the subj.), because it stands in so slight a dependence, being a mere 
additional remark. 

34-. Attinuisset* Checked. — Obtentui fugientibus. Obtentui, in- 
stead of obtentus in apposition with obscurum. Supply quod esset : 
had not the victorious army been checked by the darkness of the 
night, which afforded a cover for the retreating. 

Ch. XV. — 36. Socordius agentem. Neglecting to guard their 
encampment. Agentem is used absolutely, like tendentem, for agen- 
tem excubias or stationem. Cf. 1, 31. A. 18. 

38. Sidente. Al. cedente. Metus multo exquisitius rectiusque 
dicitur sidere quam cedere. Wr. Sidere is found, however, in this 
tropical sense only in the poets, and those not till the age of Tacitus. 

3. Ne .... quidem. Cf. note, 1,16: ne . . . . fueris. The em- g3 
phatic word always stands between these particles. — Quorum. Some 
of whom. 

5. Hinc classis, sc. on the side of Otho ; inde eques, on the 
side of Vitellius, quibus . ... in equite robur, 14. 

6. Antipolim. Now Antibes, on the coast of Provence. 

T. Albigaunum. Now Albenga, to the west of the territory of 
Genoa. The editions for the most part read Albingaunum. But Or. 
and Dod. Albigaunum, from the Medicean MS. 

Ch. XVI.— lO. Tenuit = retinuit. Cf. Essay, pp. 10, 11. 

12. In summani. To the issue of the whole war. Cf. 1, 87: 
summa expeditionis. Or. reads in summa, with the MSS. 

16. Iiiburnicarum .... navium. Cf. note G. 9. — Ibi used as 
an adj. or rather elliptically for a phrase : quae ibi erant. Cf. 1, 65 : 
invicem, note. 

20. Inconditos. Undisciplined, unused to military service. 

25. Et aversi = itaque avers; sunt. Observe the concise and 
elliptical structure of the whole sentence. — Aperla vi strictly limits 
some verb understood, and sed is omitted before aptum, as often 
inT. 

2T. Balineis. The writers of the silver age imitate the poets in 
a more frequent use of the abl. without a prep, to designate the place 
where. Z. 482. — Comites, sc. from Rome, whereas those, qui Paca- 
rium frequentabanty and who made their escape, were residents of the 
island. 



324 notes. 

Faffe 

oq 30. In niulta .... permixtos. In cumulo aliorum, qai majo- 
ribus flagitiis tencbantur, oblivione transmissos. Pichena. 
Ch. XVII.— 33. Supra, sc. 1, 70. 

34. Mallent. Would prefer, sc. if it were left to their choice. 
The protasis is not expressed, but implied. Cf. Gr. 261, R. 4. 

35. Occupantibus. Cf. note, 40 : occupant. — Melioribus incu- 
riosos. Non curantes, utrum sint hi an illi meliores. Dat. pro ad 
cum ace. Wr. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

38. Praemissae .... cohortes. Cf. 1, 70. 
84 !• Cremonam. Still Cremona, a flourishing city in the duchy of 
Milan. 

2. Placentiani. Now Placenza, in the duchy of Parma. — Tici- 
num. Cf. note, 27, below T . All in the valley of the Po, and impor- 
tant places in history. 

4r. Irritabat. Incitabat ad transgrediendum. Rup. — Quin etiam. 
Nay, it eren, etc. 

Ch. XVIII. — lO* Nee dum = et nondum, correlative to et before 
si : Spurinna had made up his mind (certum from cerno, to decide) 
both that Caecina had not yet arrived, and, if he should approach, to 
keep, etc. 

14. Signis vexilli9que. Cf. notes, 1, 31. 36: also Ramshom's 
Synonyms, 930. 

15. Prodi Othonem. Al. proditionem. But the name of Oth© 
occurs in all the MSS. Ad rem, cf. Plut. Oth. 5. 

16. Fit .... comes, i. e. falls in with, from prudential consider- 
ations. 

Ch. XIX. — 20. Urbano militi. The praetorians, who were not 
used to rearing fortifications. — Contundit. Jam attends ad singularem 
temporum orationisque variationem (enallage) : placuit . . contundit 
.... castigare, ostendere, laudari .... reduxit. Bach. 

21. Vetustissimus quisque. AH the veteran soldiers; probably 
the mille vexillarii, 18. 

22. Metum ac discrimen = quantum discri minis metuendum 
esset ; hence followed by the subj. phi p. (circumfudisset). 

26. Q,uod .... legisset. The subj. here gives the sentiments of 
the officers, and not of the writer = because, as they said. Laudo 
and the like verbs, denoting the outward expression of feeling, are 
commonly followed by quod with the ind. or subj. ; while those signifi- 
cant of the inward feeling are usually followed by the ace. with the 
infinitive. Cf. Z. 629. Quia does not properly follow either of these 
classes of verbs. Cf. note, 1, 31. — Coloniam .... validam, sc. Pla- 
centia. — Virium. Men. 

28. Relictis exploratoribus, sc, in the camp which they had 
begun to fortify. 

30. Solidati in prose is post- Augustan. Cf. Boet. and FreuncL 



BOOK ft. 325 

Page 

33. Haud poeniteret. They were not deficient in bravery, o A 
Cf. A. 33 : neque poenituit. Subj. after cum causalis. 
Ch. XX. — 36. Q,uod .... alloqueretur. Cf. note, 19: quod 



3T. Versicolori sagulo. Cf. note, G. 6. The particolored 
sagum, as well as the braccae, was characteristic of barbarians. Cf. 
5,23; G. 17 ; Caes. B. G. 5. 42. Gallia Narbonensis was called 
also Gallia Braccata. — Togatos. Men clad in the toga, which was 
characteristic of Romans and Italians. 

38. Autem. But they were still more displeased with the pomp 
of his wife, as if a wrong done to themselves. Some copies read 
quoque. — Quanquam . . . veheretur. Cf. note, 5, 21: quanquam . . . 
evasisset. 

1 • Equo ostroque = equus ostro stratus, by hendiadys. Roth. 85 

3. Acribus oculis. With sharp, i. e. jealous eyes. Al. aegris. 

5. Vide runt. So the MSS. The early editions have videre s 
which form (in ere) is much more frequent in T., but not therefore 
necessarily universal. 

7. Jactata sunt. Cf. Gr. 205, R. 2 (2). Note. 

9. Ut . . . . provenissent. Ut = prout. Cf. A. 18 : prout . . . 
cessissent. Cf. Essay, p. 10. 

Ch. XXI. — 12. Aperti. Non tecti pluteis, cratibus vineisque. 
Rup. 

15. Glandes. Not of lead, but of iron, and thrown red hot. — 
Missilem ignem. Such as the falaricae and the malleoli, of which, 
as well as all the engines and arts employed in a siege, cf. Fiske's 
Man. P. 2, 299. Observe the author's avoidance of technical terms. 
Cf. Essay, p. 20. 

19. Q,uod . . . . foret depends on invidia et aemulatione. Cf. 
note, 19 : quod legisset ; also Gr. 273, 5 ; Z. 629. 

23. Nox .... assumpta, i. e. not even the night put an end to 
the preparation ; the night was added to the labors of the day. 
Al. absumpta, by conjecture. 

24. Pluteos .... vineas. Cf. Manual as above. 

26. Perfringeiidis, sc. pluteis et vineis, supplied from above. 
So Dod. Cf. Essay, p. 15. But it may be taken with hostibus : for 
breaking through the ranks of the enemy. 

2T. Gloria = gloriae cupido by prcegnantia. Cf. Essay, p. 16 

30. Segnem is the opposite of promptus ; desidem the opposite 
of strenuus. Dod. 

33. Uberioribus stimulabantur. Two things seem tc 

be implied in this clause : that there was more to blame than to praise 
in Otho and Vitellius ; and that their followers were more readily ex- 
cited by hatred than by love. 

Ch. XXII. — 36. Legionum must be taken hero in the general 

28 



326 NOTES. 

Page 

ot sense of legionary troops (cf. legionarius below), for Ccecina had but 

one full legion, together with several thousand picked men from other 

legions. Cf. 1, 61. 

31. Murorum. Murus, as here, properly denotes the wall of 

the city ; moenia, the towers and bulwarks upon it. 
Q£ 1 • Librato magis. Better balanced, hence truer and surer aim. 

Cf. 1, 16: librari.—2. Cantu truci, etc. Cf. A. 33 ; G. 3 : baritum. 

4. Legionarius, sc. miles Caecinae. 

5. Aggerem. A mound reared to a level with the walls, and 
serving as a basis for towers and engines. Cf. Smith's Die. sub verbo ; 
also Fiske's Man. P. 3, 299. — Contra. On the other side, sc. of the 
besieged under Spurinna. In this animated description, the scene 
changes several times from the walls to the plains beneath, and vice 
versa. — 1 1. Irrisus ac vanus. Mocked and baffled. 

12. Intendit. Cf. ammo intendit, A. 18. For its literal mean- 
ing, cf. note, 1, 12.— 13. Julius Briganticus. Cf. 4, 70. 

15. Primipilaris. Cf. note, 1, 31. — llaud alienus. Not a 
stranger, or, as others take it, not averse. Haud is used by later 
writers, and even by Livy, without distinction from non. The authors 
of the best age limit it to certain combinations, such as haud multum, 
and the like. Cf. Z. 277. 

Cii. XXIII. — 20. Ducebat. Was leading, sc. at the time he re- 
ceived the letters of Spurinna. — Paucitate. Cf. Gr. 245. II. 

25. A'icus, sc. Bedriacum, which was 20 miles from Cremona, 
now Cancto. Yicus from Gr. tocos, a villa or village. — Duabus .... 
cladibus, sc. Othonis, 39, and Vitellii, 3, 15. The defeat of Vitellius 
was between Bedriacum and Cremona, and is referred sometimes to the 
one, sometimes to the other. 

2T. Prospere pugnatum. On the side of Otho. 

29. Effudit. Said properly of a stream; implies here the rapid- 
ity and force, and also the disorder with which the troops were 
lauded. Cf. Ann. 1, 23: effunderentur. 

3 3. Certatim. They vied with each other in their abuse of their 
commanders. — 35. Eos .... praefecerat. Cf. 1, 87. 

36. Incesserant. Had assailed, sc. before Otho Titianum .... 
praeposuit. Al. incessebant. 
Q*7 3. Inter adversa melior refers to the firmness and fortitude of 
Otho near his end. Cf. 46, seq. 

Ch. XXIV. — 8. Per concursum exploratorum, by enallage for 
concurrentibus exploratoribus : worsted even in the engagement of 
the scouts. — lO. Illuc, sc. to Valens. 

11. Avidius quam consultius. Cf. note, 1, 83. — Duodecimum, 
sc. lapidem or milliarium. 

1 2. Castorum, i. e. Castoris et Pollucis. Cf. Plin. 7, 22 ; Suet. 
Oth. 9. Rup. 



BOOK II. 327 

Page 
13. Viae, sc. Postumiae. — Lucis. Cf. note, ad verbum. G. 9. orr 

18. Vexillum, i. e. the vexillaries of the 13th legion. 

19. Aggerem viae, i. e. partes viae editiores et aggeratas. Cf. 
Fiske's Man. 1, 52, where see the construction of Roman roads. 

20. Dextra fronte, i. e. dextro cornu. Cf. Curt. 4, 13. Ob- 
serve, that auxiliaries were placed on either wing, as the Roman 
allies were in the earliest wars of the republic. 

Ch. XXV. — 25. Prudens = providens, which has the same 
etymology. 

26. Exsurgentes, sc. ex insidiis, i. e. lucis viae imminenti- 
bus, 24. 

2T. Ultro = insuper, furthermore; so Rup. But better per- 
haps : of their own accord, i. e. by their own act. Cf. note, G. 28. 

28. Adversa frons. This is the reading of Wr., Bach, Rit., 
Rup., Dod., Or. and the best MSS. Al. fronte. The sense is the 
same. Supply erat : literally, the opposing front was (composed) of 
legionary soldiers, for so we must take legionum here as in 22 (where 
see note), for there was but one entire legion under command of 
Paullinus, viz. the first. Cf. 24. 

30. Cui placerent = talis, ut, etc. Cf. Gr. 264, 1 ; 

Z. 556. 

31. Fossas. Wr. and Bach understand this of the ditches by 
the roadside, and refer to 41 : praeruptis utrimque fossis, etc. But 
most editors understand it of agricultural ditches for draining, and 
refer in proof to 3, 21 : agresti fossa. The latter accords better with 
aperiri campum, which denotes the clearing and levelling of the 
fields. 

34. Vineas .... impeditas. Vineyards thick with interwoven 
branches. Murphy. Or. remarks that even now, in that part of 
Italy, vines are planted between trees, and interlock their branches. 

3T. Rex Epiphanes. Non proprie rex, sed Antiocbi regis Com- 
mageni filius (crown prince). Cf. Joseph. B. 9. 7, 7. Sic et infra, 
5, 9, rex Pacorus pro regis filio. Wr. 

Ch. XXVI. — 5. Abriperet. Observe the force of ab : bore away, gg 
i. e. along with the panic-stricken fugitives. Subj. after cum causalis. 

6. Q,uod • • • • ducerentur. Cf. note, 19 : quod .... legisset. — 
Praefectus castrorum. There was one praefect of the camp to each 
legion, whose duty it was to attend to the making of the camp, and 
its whole internal economy. (Vegetius, 2, 10). This office is first 
mentioned in the reign of Augustus. Cf. Smith's Die. 

T. Fratri .... age ret. For the more common expression: cum 
fratre de proditione ageret. 

13. Percrebruerit. It was a general remark. For the perf. 
subj. cf. note, 1, 24: dederit. 

14. Insuper = additional. Adv. for adj. 



328 NOTES. 

Pa ff e 

QQ IT. Adverso rumore. Ant. to probata : generally condemned. 

Ch. XXVII. — 19. Apud Caecinam, i. e. in the army of Cascina. 
Observe the omission of sed before Fabii. Cf. Essay, p. 13. It is 
inserted in many editions. 

22. Ticimim. On the river Ticinus, near its confluence with the 
Po. Now Pavia in Milan. 

24. Alioquin. Literally, in other respects, i. e. but, besides. — 
Altiore initio = altius et ab initio. Dod. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

29. Retulimus. Cf. 1, 59. — Ut . . . . accessissent. Subj. Cf. 
Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569. 

33. Jurgiis .... rixis. Cf. note on these words, 1, 64. 

34:. Ad postremuni, etc. At last, Valens was suspicious, 
that out of this quarrelsome spirit would grow something worse, 
even open mutiny. Suspectare is not found in writers of the age of 
Augustus. Cf. Freund, sub voce. 

Ch. XXVIII.— 36. Pulsam circumiri. Ad rem, cf. 

14, seq. 
OQ T. Sanitas. Completeness. — Sustentaculum. Prop. It is a new 
word, invented so far as appears by T. — Columen. Our word column, 
pillar. From cello, to drive. 

8. In ... . verteretur. Lit. turns in (we say on) Italy. Ritter 
complains of this as a mixed metaphor. Verteretur is appropriate to 
sustentaculum and columen, but not to sanitas, which properly means 
health. Dod. takes columen in the sense of summit, and says : sani- 
tas ad plenitatem, sustentaculum ad stabilitatem, columen ad gloriam 
victoriae spectat. 

Ch. XXIX. — 11. Sarcinis, sc. Valentis. The word properly de- 
notes a pack (from sarcio, to sew) ; hence private baggage, camp- 
equipage. 

16, Decurionem equitum. Cf. note, 1, 70; also Fiske's Man. 
P. 3, 290. 

IT. Praefectus castrorum. Cf. note, 26. — Deflagrante. Sub- 
siding, lit. burning out. — Addit consilium, i.e. adopts a plan for quel- 
ling it still further. This plan is expressed by the ablatives which 
follow: vetitis, &c, instead of vetuit enim, &c, which would be less 
concise. 

18. Obire vigilias. To visit the watch, go the rounds of inspec- 
tion. Cf. note, 1,48 ; also Fiske's Man. P. 3, 298. — Omisso . . . so;w. 
Nam tuba initio, cornu seu buccina in fine vigiliarum cani solebat. 
Veget. 3, 8 ; Polyb. 6, 37. Rup. 

28. Plus .... licere. Guilt, when widely spread, levels all dis- 
tinctions. Lucan truly observes (Pharsal. 5, 290) : Facinus, quos in- 
quinat, aequat. Murphy. 

Ch. XXX.— 32. Kolle requiem. Observe the series of infini- 
tives, indicative of rapidity. Cf. note, 1, 36: complecti armis, etc. 



book ii. 329 

Page 

34. Improspera. This word is found only in Tacitus. Cf. Es- QQ 
say, p. 22. 

36. Simul . . . . et. Correlatives, though, as usual in Tacitus, the 
clauses are of different construction : in suam excusationem being put, 
by enallage, for se excusantes. 

3 8. Despectarentur is found in this sense (look down upon, de- 
spise) only in Tacitus and the later writers. Cf. Freund and Boet. 

1. Duplicatus .... Valenti. See the original numbers, 1, 61 ;QQ 
and the large additions to the army of Valens, 1, 64. Duplicatus = 
duplex. 

3. Promptior. Promptus Tacito paene id, quod pronus. Rup. 

5. Inani favore. Groundless partiality. 

6. Foedum .... maculosum, sc. libidine ac rapacitate. Cf. 1, 66. 
The words agree with Valentem understood ; as vanum and tumidum 
do with Caecinam. Observe the brachylogy. Cf. Essay, p. 15. 

9. Cum duces .... abstinerent. Thus indicating less confidence 
of victory than the leaders of the army of Vitellius. 

Ch. XXXI. — 15. Contra illi initium, etc. He was pushed on by 
others. Cf. 1, 53. — Vitellius .... inhonestus. Vitellius by his glut- 
tony (ventre) and his drunkenness (gula) was a disgrace to himself. 
Al. ipse hostis. 

21. Q,ua = quatenus, since. Dod. Cf. Essay, p. 10. 

Ch. XXXII. — 25. Galliae tumeant. The Gauls are ready to 
break forth in rebellion. 

27 . Distineri, by a species of zeugma (cf. Essay, p. 16), is used 
in a double sense : occupied by the enemy and separated by the sea. 
Doderlein. 

30. Nullo maris subsidio. Want of naval succor, for the fleet 
was on the side of Otho. — 34. Fluxis corporibus. Cf. note, 1, 21. 

2, Obumbrentur. Cast into the shade. Found in this sense 9 J 
in no other classic. 

4. Objacere .... Padum; tanquam munimentnm. Rup. 

7. Duceret. He would protract. This speech, or rather argu- 
ment, suits well the character of Paullinus. Cf. 25 : cunctator natu- 
ra, etc. 

Ch. XXXIII. — 14. Decertandum. A decisive battle. 

16. Numen Othonis. So the flatterers of Tiberius were fain to 
dignify his administration with the epithet of divine, while he yet lived 
(Ann. 1, 87). Divus was a common appellation of the emperors after 
their death. Cf. G. 28. 

IT. Xeu quis = et nequis. Zumpt, 535. 

20. Objectare periculis. SumpUun ex Virg. Aen. 2, 751. Er- 
nesti. Cf. Essay, p. 24. — 21. Deterioris consilii, sc. pugnari. 

22. Perpulere. Prevailed on him (Otho). — Brixellum. Now 
Bresello, in the territory of Reggio. 

28* 



330 NOTES. 

Page 

Q1 23. Summae .... imperii. For the general good and the sm- 
preme command. Cf. notes on summa, 1, 87 ; 2, 16. 

29. In incerto, etc., i. e. effecerat, ut nemo militum esset certus, 
penes quern summum imperium esset. Wr. Dod. omits in, after the 
Medicean MS., and according to the analogy of 1, 68 : ipsi medio 
vagi. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

Ch. XXXIV. — 3 1 • Diversa. The measures of the opposite party. 
Cf. ex diverso, 75, note. 

33. Q,uaudo depends on intenti. — Quod refers to alienam .... 
opperiebantur. 

36. Ac ne ... . tereret. There were two reasons for commen- 
cing the bridge: 1. To make a feint of crossing the river; 2. To keep 
the soldiers occupied. Otium tereret is a concise expression for otio 
iempus tereret. Dod. gives it the name of structura contracta. Cf. 
Essay, p. 17. 

3T. Adversum .... dirigcbantur. Were set with their prows 

against the current. — Super for iiwuper (cf. Essay, p. 10) : anchors 

moreover being cast, sc. besides the support of the timbers on either 

6ide. So Or. and Dod. 

92 !• ^ ou extenti = laxi. — 2. Iitoflensus. Without obstruction. 

3. In cxtremam .... educta. Erected on the last ship in the 
line. T. uses cducere in the sense of erect. Cf. 4, 30 : eduxerant 
Batavi turrim ; Ann. 2, 61 : eductae pyramides. So Wr. and Rup. 
Or. and Dod. take educta in the sense of drawn out or pushed for- 
ward, as a moveable tower. But cf. Virg. Aen. 2, 460: turrim sub 
astra eductam. 

4. Tormentis ac machinis. See these, as also the towers de- 
scribed and illustrated, in Man. P. 3, 199, 4. 5. 

Ch. XXXV. — 7. Gladiatores is taken by Rup. as ace. after prae- 
labebantur. But Or. and Dod., with better reason, make it the sub- 
ject of a verb implied (by zeugma) in praelabebantur : into which the 
gladiators toiling with ships endeavored to pass, but the Germans 
by swimming slipped over before them. 

1 2. Vulnera dirigebant. Poetic for tela dirigebant. Cf. Virg. 
Aen. 2, 529. See Essay, p. 24. 

Ch. XXXVI. — 19. Abreptis = raptim abductis. Wr., Or., etc., 
after Gronovius. The MSS. have abruptis. 

20. Macer . . . poscebatur. Yet he had been successful in a 
like conflict with these same gladiators, 23. Cf. A. 27 : adversa (bel- 
lorum) uni imputantur, etc. — Ad exitium. Dod. omits ad, after the 
Medicean MS. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

25. Flavium Sabinum. Not Vespasian's brother of the same 
name, who was now at Rome. Cf. note, 1, 77. 

2T. Infestam = periculosam. Rup. For the active sense of 



BOOK II. 331 

Page 
infestus, cf. note, A. 25. Derived from in and the obsolete fendo. Cf. no 

of-fendo, de -fendo. 

Ch. XXXVII. — 30. Flagitia refers to character, dedecus to repu- 
tation. 

3 2. Vel .... vel. Either .... or, as they chose (from volo). — 
In medium. In common, for the common weal. Cf. Freund sub v. 

34t. Spe Paullini, sc. se lectum iri imperatorem. Rup. 

35, Gloriam nomenque. By hendiadys for nomen gloriosum, 
or synonymous, like spatium ac moras just above. Roth. 

3. Caritate. Lit. scarcity (from careo) ; hence dearness, affec- 93 
tion, as here, and at length charity. 

6. Magna ex parte. Ante, contra, inter and propter, ob, post, 
de, ex and in are frequently placed between the adj. and subs. Z. 324. 
Cf. chap. 3 : tenuem in ambitum. 

T. Pollutum .... meritis. Defiled and laid under obligation 
by their criminal favors. Meritis must be taken in this bad sense 
with pollutum. 

Ch. XXXVIIL— 10. Rebus modicis. When the (Roman) re- 
public was small. 

11. Regibusve. Al. que. Cf. note, 1, 44: quive ; G. 4: solove. 
Ve distinguit aemulos- sive fuerint urbes sive reges. Wr. Rivals, 
whether cities (i. e. free states) or kings, having been cut off. — Secu- 
ras. Safe from external violence. 

1 2. Prima certamina must be taken in a modified sense. The 
strife between the orders commenced almost with the foundation of the 
city ; but it blazed out into a fiercer flame just in proportion as the 
state was exempt from the assaults of foreign enemies. 

15. ^obilium saevissimus. According to Arnold, " the most 
sincere of aristocrats." Cf. Rom. His. 

IT. Occultior. Magis c elans potentiae cupidinem. Rup. After 
Pompeius, we may supply idem fecit with Dod., or simply fuit. 

18. Nunquam .... quaesitum. And ever after the only ques- 
tion in dispute was, who should be princeps. 

19. Pharsalia ac Philippis. Cf. note, 1, 50. 

21. Illos refers to exercitus, which though the latter mentioned 
word, is the more remote idea. Cf. Gr. 207, R. 23. 

The commentators remark a close resemblance between this chapter, 
particularly at the beginning, and Thucyd. 3, 82, and a fragment of 
the History of Sallust. Cf. Dod. in loc. 

Ch. XXXIX.— 29. Uteretur. Subj. Gr. 263, 5 ; Z. 577.— Inani 
.... praetendebantur. With the empty name of general served only 
as a screen for (literally, were stretched before) the faults of others, 
sc. Titianus and Proculus. 

30. Ambigui. Undecided, i. e. they hesitated which to obey. 



332 NOTES. 

Page 

no 3 2. I iterpretari. Discuss. — Mallet. For the subj. cf. Gr. 264, 
30 1 ; Z. 558. 

33. Adeo imperite. There is an obvious ellipsis of quod factum 
est, or the like : which was done with so little skill. Cf. Plut. Oth. 
11, of which Lipsius says: totum hunc locum verbatim Plutarchus ex- 
pressit, ut pleraque alia, etsi haud multum aetate Nostro inferior. 

38. Perinde, followed by quam, is peculiar to post- Augustan wri- 
ters. Cf. Freund and Boetticher, Lex. Tac. 
QA Ch. XL. — 3. Non . . . bellandum. Not as if to battle, but as if 
to a (protracted) war, i. e. encumbered with baggage (gravem sarcinis) 
and in marching, uot fighting, order. On the contrary, the Vitellians 
are said (45) to have been expediti et tantum ad proelium egressi. 
See proelium and bellum contrasted in like maimer, G. 30. 

4:. Inde refers to the encampment ad quartum a Bedriaco. 

5. Spatio. Abl. Cf. Gr. 236, R. 4 ; Z. 396. 

7. Admissuro. Al. amissuro, omissuro. Literally, who would 
not allow but that he would attack, i. e. would not fail to attack. 
Non admitto is equivalent to a verb of hindering. Z. 543. 

10. Ad jus . . . . transibant. They had recourse to their au- 
thority as commanders-in-chief. Strictly, they were having recourse, 
sc. at the very time when Otho's courier arrived. 

11. Xumida. People of wealth and fashion at this time were 
habitually attended by a train of Numidians, mounted on the swift 
horses of their country, to ride before them and announce their ap- 
proach. Cf. Sen. Epist. 88 and 124 ; Suet. Ner. 30 ; Beck. Gall. Sc.4. 

13. Aeger .... impatiens. " Hope deferred maketh the heart 
sick." 

Ch. XLL— 14. Operi .... intentum. Cf. 34. 

16. Conditiones. Proposals. 

1 8. Insidias. To lay a snare for the Vitellians : proditionem, to 
betray their own party. 

23. A . . . . Othonianis belongs with impingerentur, being placed 
before quo minus for emphasis. Or. and Dod. trace the form of ex- 
pression here to Virg. Aen. 5, 805 : Cum Troia Achilles .... impinge- 
ret agmina muris. 

29. Mixta, sc. with the soldiers. — Lixae. Cf. note, 1,49: ante 
.... tumulum. — SO. Fossis. Cf. note, 25. 

34. Aut relabel) antur. Al. vel revehebantur. But vel suits not 
the place. Wr. Aut is found in the best MS. together with relabe- 
bantur, fell back, literally, glided back, flowed back, like a wave. 
Cf. Virg. Aen. 10, 307 : unda relabens. 

Ch. XLII. — 38. Dispersus = utrum dispersus sit. The author 
leaves it uncertain whether the report was spread abroad by spies of 
Vitellius, or originated in the party of Otho, and, in the latter case 
whether it was by accident or by treachery. Suetonius (Oth. 9) de- 



book ii. 333 

Page 

clares that Otho was defeated by a stratagem : his soldiers were called 
out to be present at a general pacification, and were suddenly attacked 
in the very act of saluting the Vitellian army. 

2. Salutavere. Armies were wont to salute each other and join Qg 
hands at a friendly meeting. Cf. 3, 25 ; 4, 72. 

8. Cominus eminus. v Notice the asyndeton and its effect. Cf. 
note, 1, 36. — Catervis et cuneis. In the form of a wedge (cf. note, 
G. 6), and in less regular masses (cf. Rams. 624). Rup. takes cuneis 
here as a general term = divisions, as in Ann. 1, 51. But non una . . . 
fades requires here the more distinctive sense. 

9. Collato gradu. Foot to foot, as we say. It is a technic for a 
close engagement. — Niti, sc. hostibus, which is the object. Corporibus 
and umbonibus are the instrument. 

11. Noscentes inter se. Being mutually acquainted, sc. the 
soldiers on opposite sides. They are called fratres et propinqui, 45. 
Cf. yvwpi^ovTes aWtjXovs. Xiph. 65, 12. — Ceteris conspicui, i. e. those, 
who fought on the highway, were conspicuous in the view of their 
comrades. 

Ch. XLIII. — 16. Prima Adjutrix. Cf. note, on prima legione, 
chap. 11. 

18. Principiis. Intellige irpondxovg, primam aciem. The word 
is used in the same sense by Livy (e. g. 2, 65 ; 3, 22). Cf. also Plu- 
tarch ad rem eandem : iravTas rods ■npond'xpvs airoKTeivavTeg. 

20. Sign a vexillaque. Cf. notes, 1, 31. 36. — A parte alia. In 
another part of the field. 

Ch. XLIV. — 29. Immeiisum spatium, i. e. for a flying army. 
The distance was sixteen miles. 

30. Strage corporum. According to Xiph. (64, 10), forty thou- 
sand men fell on both sides in this battle. Cf. also Plutarch's account 
of the carnage, Oth. 13. — Neque .... vertuntur. Hence no quarter 
was given. Cf. 3, 34. 

3 2. Castra vitavere. Nimirum (poftovnevoi rovs arpartwrag. Plut. 
Oth. 13. Wr. 

34. Multo adhuc die. While much of the day still remained. 
Non noctu et furtim, ut Titianus et Celsus. Rup. 

1. Excubiis. Cf. Manual, P. 3, 298 ; Smith's Diet, of Antiq., Qg 
under Army. — 9. Militum, quod. Cf. frugum, quod, G. 15, note. 

13. Truces refers to the praetoriani ; pavidi to ceteri above. His 
cogitationibus limits truces only, not pavidi. 

Ch. XLV. — IT. Sed expeditis .... victoria. They neglected 
the usual precaution of fortifying their camp, because they had not 
the requisite implements. But their arms and their recent victory 
were a sufficient defence. 

21. Missa legatio, sc. by the army of Otho, asking peace of the 
Vitellian officers, who had no hesitation about granting it, though they 



334 NOTES. 

Page 

Qfl retained the ambassadors a little while, and thus occasioned an anxious 

suspense to the Othonians. 

24. Vallum, sc. of the Othonians ; patuit, sc. to receive the Vi- 
tellians. 

31* Ceterum vulgus = ceteris sc. vulgus, by attraction: the 
rest, namely the common soldiers. Cf. Essay, p. 17. 

The concluding portion of this section presents a very lively and 
touching picture of the evils of civil war. 

Ch. XLVI. — 33. Neqnaquam trepidus = fearless; hence the 
propriety of et after it, where Rhenanus proposed sed. 

34. Consilii certus. Firm of purpose, sc. to meet any result 
with composure. Tacitus resembles the poets in a more frequent use 
of the geu. after such adjectives as certus. Cf. Z. 437. 

36. Haberet. Observe the omission of ut. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 
Al. habere. 
97 !• Excitare. Literally, to rouse it up, as it were out of sleep, 
quasi jacentem ac dormientem gcnium. Dod. — Furore . . . instinctu. 
By hendiadys for furore quodam instinct i. Ernesti. Cf. instincti, 
A. 16. 35 ; instinctu, 1, 73. T. has a marked fondness for such pairs 
of kindred words, e. g. in this section : fortes et strenuos, timidos et 
ignavos. Cf. also note on domibus, etc., 1, 84. 

2. Tenderc manus. Cf. notes on protendens manus, 1, 3G ; and 
tendcbantur, 1, 63. 

3. Prensare genua. Cf. 1, 66, note. — Plotio Firtno. Cf. 1, 46. 

8. Flexerat. Antithetic to indun/rcrat ; hence = softened, 
indicative of compliance. — Ut for prout. Cf. Essay, p. 10. 

9. Clamor, sc. ubi fiexerat ; gcmitus, ubi induraverat. 

11. Aquileiam. A large city of the Veneti, and formerly a Ro- 
man colony. 

12. Ut dubitet potuisse. Observe the tenses: so that no one 
can (now) doubt, that the war could (then) have been renewed. 

Ch. XLVII. — 14. Ipse .... inquit. Compare this speech with 
Suet. Oth. 10 ; Plut. 15. Inquam is used only between the words of a 
quotation, while ait, aiunt, are found most frequently in the oratio ob- 
liqua. Z. 219. 

18. Experti .... sumus. Have made trial of each other, found 
each other out. Otho had found out all there was in good fortune 
by his elevation to the highest seat of power; and good fortune had 
tried him and found him moderate in the exercise and enjoyment of 
it. — Fortuna = felicitas. — Nee .... computaveritis. And you may 
not have estimated aright, the short time of my reign ; the shorter the 
time, the greater the temptation to abuse power, and therefore the se- 
verer the trial. 

23. Fruetur .... liberis. Cf. note on domus utraque, 1, 75; 
also 1, 88. 



book ii. 335 

Pa^e 

30. Extremis. My last hours, my death. Lipsius comparesqrr 
the sentiments of this speech with those of Ajax when about to ter- 
minate his life. Soph. Aj. 852, seq. 

Ch. XLVIIL— 35. Xrent. Cf. note, 1, 41 : agerent. 

36. Asperarent for exasperarent, simple for compound. Scarcely- 
found in this sense in any other prose writer. 

38. Naves. Otho was at Brixellum, i. e. at the confluence of 
the Po and the Nicia. 

2. Nee ut periturus. Nor yet with the profusion of a man 9g 
quitting the world. Murphy. 

3. Fratris filium, sc. of Salvius Titianus, who had fled to the 
camp, according to T. (44) ; Suetonius makes him to have been 
present on this occasion (Oth. 10), and his son to have been slain 
(Dom. 10). Plutarch agrees with T. (Oth. 10). 

11. Julios, sc. Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula. — Claudios, sc. 
Nero and Claudius. — Servios, sc. Galba. 

1 2. Familiam = gentem, sc. Salviam. Rup. 

13. Capesseret = frueretur. — Neu meminisset. Trans- 
lated by Plat. Oth. 16. Cf. note on adeo imperite above, 39. 

Ch. XLIX. — 15. Dimotis, i. e. jussis abire. 

IT. Avertit, sc. ab his curis. 

19. Vergiuium. Cf. 1, 8. 9. Brotier suggests, that the exam- 
ple of Verginius in declining the imperial dignity, may have been 
regarded by the soldiers as a cause of Otho's undervaluing and re- 
signing it. 

22. Allatis pugionibus. After the example of Nero. Cf. Suet. 
Ner. 49. Some MSS. and most editions add duobus. But it is not in 
the best MSS. and is quite superfluous. Cf. Or. in loc. 

23. Cum .... pertentasset. When he had carefully (per) 
tried the points of both — for some time, adds Plutarch (Oth. 17) : 
ttoXvv ypdvov. 

27. Unum vulnus. Indicative of intrepidity in the act of suicide. 

28. Ambitiosis. Earnest, like those of the candidate soliciting 
popular favor. Nero had made the same request (Suet. Ner. 49). 
Alike in their manner of life, in death they were not dissimilar, though 
Otho died with the greater dignity. 

31. Exosculantes. Ex gives emphasis: kissing fondly, re- 
peatedly. This compound is not found earlier than the age of T. 

3 2. Non noxa neque ob nietum. Hendiadys according to 
Wr. But Oberlin and Rup. refer noxa to Otho, and metum to Vitel- 
lius as its object: not through remorse for any unfaithfulness to Otho, 
nor through fear of punishment from Vitellius. And so it is expressly 
rendered by Plutarch (Oth. 17). 

34. Celebratum. Saepe et a multis peractum. Rup. Cf. note, 
1, 81 : celebre. 



336 NOTES. 

Page 

qq 35. Sepulcrum .... mansurum, sc. ob modestiam : and there- 
fore likely to last. So Murphy translates, and adds the following 
note: Plutarch tells us (Oth. 18) that he himself visited Otho's tomb 
at Brixellum. Those perishable monuments have long since moul- 
dered away ; but the epitaph written by Martial will never die. The 
poet admits that Otho led a dissolute life, but adds that in his end, he 
was no way inferior to Cato. Cf. Mart. 6, 31. 

Ch. L. — 36. Himc finem. Cf. note on hunc exitum, 1, 49. — 
Septimo et iricesimo. The 38th according to Suet. (Oth. 11), who 
always includes in such computations both the year of birth and of 
death. Wr. Cf. note on sextus dies, 1, 28. 

3T. Origo, i. e. of his family, not his own birthplace. — Ferentio. 
A town of Etruria, different from the Ferentinum so often mentioned 
by Livy, though confounded with it by many commentators. Cf. 
Suet. Oth. 1. 

38. Materimm . . . impar, etc., viz. Equestrian. Cf. Suet. Oth. 1. 
99 1. Q,ualem monstraviinus. Cf. 1, 13. 

2. Altero ila^itiosissimo, sc. the dethronement of Galba, with 
its accompanying crimes. — Altero egregio, sc. his voluntary death, 
with a view to terminate the civil war. It scarcely need be said that 
the Christian, while he approves the motive (if this were the motive), 
will condemn the means. 

4. Fabulosa. T. relates few prodigies in comparison with Sue- 
tonius. 

5. Crediderim .... ausim. Cf. note on crediderim, 1, 83. 

7. Invisitata = antea non visa. Al. inusitata. — Regium Lepi- 
dum. A town of Gallia Cispadana, not far from Brixellum ; called 
Lepidum from Aemilius Lepidus (Strab. 5) ; now Reggio. — Celebri 
luco. Al. loco. But the MSS. all have luco. Celebri may be either 
frequented or celebrated. Cf. note, 1, 81. 

1 2. Competisse, in the sense of agreement, is not found prior to 
the age of Tacitus, and the word is very rarely used by the earlier 
Latin authors. 

Ch. LI. — 13. Luctu ac dolore. Grief and pain. Grief for 
Otho, pain for their own calamities. Cf. Dod. in loc. 

14. Modo .... nunc. Correlatives = modo . . . modo. A. 25. 

IT. Aversam .... partem, sc. posticam et secretam. Rup. 

18. Preces .... tulit, sc. to Caecina and Valens. 

19. Concedentibus is abl., denoting not the cause, but the concom- 
itant of venia impetrata. Cf. note on expulsis . . . professoribus. A. 2. 

20. Flavium Sabinum. Prefect of the city and brother of 
Vespasian. Cf. 1, 46, 77 ; 2, 36, and notes ibid. 

Ch. LIL— 23. Mutinae. Cf. 1, 50. The fact that the senators 
were left at Mutina, was not mentioned in its place, though we are 
told (1, 88) that they left Rome with Otho, comitum specie. 



book ii. 337 

Pare 

26. Vultum habitumque. Cf. note, 1, 17. qq 

2T. In deterius. Cf. in majus, 1, 18. 

3 2. Tutior agrees with quisque implied in nemo, which = quis- 
que non. In like manner quisque is implied in quisquam in 1, 1: 
neque amore quisquarn et sine odio dicendus est. 

33. Ordo Mutineiisis. Senatus sive decurioiies Mutinensium. 
Ernesti. The senators of the mnnicipia were called decurioiies. Man. 
P. 3, 268. 2. (2.) ; and the senate ordo decurionum, afterwards sim- 
ply ordo. Smith's Die. under Colonia. 

34. Patres Conscriptos. See the origin of this double title ex- 
plained, Liv. 2, 1. — Intempestivo honore. Ill-timed enough always 
under the emperors, but especially ill-timed now, when the senators 
were assembled only in part, out of the city and without their 
princeps. 

Ch. LIII. — 36. Ambigua. Vacillating between Otho and Vi- 
tellius. 

3T. Invisum .... nomen. Marcellus had been a notorious in- 
former under Nero (cf. 4, 7. 43) ; and the inveterate enemy of the 
virtuous Paetus Thrasea. Ann. 16, 22. 28. 

1. Novus adhuc, sc. homo, i. e. without distinction by birth. Cf. JQQ 
Cic. passim. 

2. Magnis inimicitiis. Cf. note on magna adulter ia, 1, 2. 

3. Bononiam. Now Bologna. It was a colony. Ann. 12, 58. 
5. Recentissimum. Last from the scene of action. 

8. Sola .... cura, i. e. caring only for his reputation with pos- 
terity. 

Ci-i. LIV. — 11. Consiliis, sc. senatus. 

13. Superventu .... legionis. This legion was in fact hemmed 
in by superior numbers (cf. 43), though it is alleged by the soldiers 
(cf. 6^), that their main body was not present. Superventus is a 
post- Augustan word. — 15* Causa. The design, motive. 

16. Diploinata. Well explained in Leverett ; more fully in 
Smith's Die. sub voce. Cf. Plin. Ep. 10, 14. 54. The diploma con- 
sisted of two leaves, or tablets folded together ; hence the name (from 
Gr. <5(tA<5w). These writs, being given by the emperor, and sealed 
with his seal, were of course disregarded (negligebantur) after his 
death, as null and void ; but would recover their force (revalescerent), 
if Otho were again believed to be alive. 

18. Paucos post dies. Cf. note on magna ex parte, 37. — Poe- 
nas luit. Literally, he paid the penalty. Cf. note, 1, 37: poena. 

21. Publici .... discessum. Cf. 53 : rediere . . . consiliaturi. 
— Partes, sc. Othonis. 

22. In commune. Cf. note on it, G. 27. 

Ch. LV. — 26. Ex more. In the usual manner and at the usual 
time, viz. the 19th of April. Ann. 15, 53. 

29 



838 ROMS, 

Page 

100 2 * # Cessisse * C edo is flowed by the dat. of the person and ace. 
or abl. of the thing. Cf. Z. 413. Tacitus uses it here and in some 
other places without either, vita being understood. 

29. Certi auctores. Credible witnesses. The opposite of in- 
certis auctoribus, 73. 

30. Vitellio plausere, sc. the multitude. Compare a similar 
scene of servility, 1, 32.-3 2. Lacum Curtii. Cf. note, 1, 41. 

33. Cuncta. All the honors and prerogatives. 
34:. Composita. Contrived, invented. A satire on the age so 
fertile in new methods of obsequiousness. 

35. Missa legatio, sc. to Vitellius. Cf. G9 : senatus legatione, etc. 

36, Q,uae .... fungeretur. To offer their congratulations. 
The expression implies a mere official and heartless congratulation. 
Cf. Or. ad loe. See also Essay, p. 1G. 

3T. Gratior .... scripsisset. It had already become a pro- 
vailing custom, that none but the emperors should write to the consuls 
or senate, but all others should write to the emperor. Cf. Lipsius 
ad loc. 

101 ^ H * LVI. — 2. Muiiicipia et colonias. Cf. note on municipia, 
1, 70. 

3. Yi et stupris = stupris violentis by hendiadys. Roth. — Fas 
nefasque, i. e. right and wrong, without distinction. Cf. note on 
fas, 1, 41. 

4. Avidi aut venales. Either eager under the impulse of their 
own passions, or influenced by bribes from others. 

5. Inimicos. Private enemies; hostes, public do. — Specie mili- 
tum, quasi milites Othonis essent et hostes. Rup. 

6. Refertos, sc. frugibus. 

8. Obnoxiis .... apsis* The generals being liable to be called 
to account for their own crimes (ob noxam), and therefore not daring 
to forbid the crimes of others. 

9. Plus ambitionis. Sub. sed : but more desire of popularity ; 
for which reason he was as ready to connive at the faults of the sol- 
diers, as Valens was in order to gratify his avarice. 

11. Tantum .... injuriae = tantum peditum equitumque cum 
vi, damnisque et injuriis, quibus per illos afficiebantur. Wr. 

Ch. LVI1. — 15. Pauci .... relicti, sc. to bear up the names of 
their respective legions (which had been withdrawn by Vitellius), and 
to serve as a nucleus about which the full number was to be gathered 
by hasty levies from the Gauls. This explains remanentium .... 
nomina : the empty names of legions which remained behind. Cf. 
4, 14 : inania legionum nomina. 

IT. Cura .... permissa, sc. ne Germani transirent. Lipsius. — 

E Britannico millia. Called vexillis .... Britannicarum le- 

gionum, 3, 22. 



book ii. 339 

Page 

Ch. LVIII. — 2T. Utramque Mauretaniam. Cf. duae Maure-]j)1 
taniae, 1, 11. Uterque is plural hf its meaning, but seldom used in a 
plural form. Cf. Z. 141, N. 2. 

31. Decern novem. For decern et novem. Al. undeviginti (Wr.), 
and noveudecim (Oberlin and the common editions). But neither of 
these is found in the MSS. Zumpt says (115, N. 2), that such forms 
as octodecim and novendecim are not supported by any authority. 

34. Hispaniae. Spain had espoused the cause of Vitellius. 

2. Jubae iiomen. Quod erat illustre inter Maurorum reges. Brot. 1 QO 

Ch. LIX. — T. Appulsu littoris. Immediately on his approach 
to the shore. Al. appulsus. 

9. Q,uae fiereut. Which might (chance) to be done, i. e. what- 
ever they might be. 

12. Arare. Now the Saone. Cf. Ann. 13, 53. — Paratu = ap- 
paratu. Dod. — Vetere egestate. For the extreme poverty of Vitellius 
at his setting out for the province, from which he returned an emperor, 
cf. Suet. Vitel. 7. 

14r. Par opibus. With resources equal to his liberality. 

16. Ingratus, sc. because he outshone Vitellius — a crime which 
he finally expiated with his blood. Cf. 3, 39. — Quamvis. Although^ 
followed by the subj. Cf. Gr. 263, 2 ; Z. 574 ; and note below, 79: 
quamvis . . . .jurasset. 

19. Curuli, sc. sellae. Chair of state, occupied originally only 
by the kings (Liv. 1, 20: curuli regia sella) ; under the republic by 
all the principal magistrates ; under the emperors again more restricted, 
viz. to themselves, the Augustales and the praetor in the administration 
of justice. Cf. Smith's Diet, of Antiq., Sella. 

20. Infanti filio. Qui titubautia oris prope mutus fuit. Cf. Suet. 
Vitel. 6. Brotier. — Pcrlatum. Brought to him. 

23. Rebus .... cessit. It was some solace that the child had 
once worn princely robes. So when Vitellius was insulted by a tribune 
and expected every moment to be put to death, he said : " but yet I 
have been your sovereign" (3, 85). The passage has been made the 
subject of much rteedless censure by the commentators. — Rebus ad- 
versis. The son, as well as the father, was ere long put to death. 
Cf. 4, 80. 

Ch. LX. — 26. Contactu. Under their influence, spreading from 
one to another like a contagious disease. 

30. Ultro imputabant. Cf. note on ultro imputavit, 1, 71. 

33. Fidem absolvit. Pardoned their fidelity to Otho, as if a 
crime. Cf. 1, 59 : fidei crimine, gravissimo inter desciscentes. Observe 
the pregnant conciseness of the language, fidem for crimen fidei. Cf. 
Essay, p. 17. 

36. Creditum fama. It was believed on the ground of mere 
rumor. 



340 NOTES. 

Page 

102 **®' ** es titit. Resisted the offer of Simplex. Others understand : 
denied the report. — Dedit .... coftsulatum. Cf. 3, 68. 

JQ3 1. Traclialum. The writer of Otho's speeches, 1, 90. 

2. Galeria was of the same gens as Galerius Trachalus. Women 
at Rome had no pr&nomen or cognomen ; but only the nomen or gen- 
tile name (cf. note on the name of Agricola. A. 4). They were fur- 
ther distinguished only by the name of the father or husband, as here: 
uxor Vitellii. 

Ch. LXI. — 4. Inserere .... fortunae. To thrust himself in as 
an aspirant to fortune, sc. inter magnorum virorum discrimina. 

5. Siniulatione liuminum. Simulans se deum esse, vel a diis 
missum ad patriam liberandam. Rup. The latter is preferable. 

6. Assertor. Liberator. — Nam id, etc. Al. nomen id, but with- 
out MS. authority. Of course nomen is understood by a not unfrequent 



7. Proximos Aeduorum. In quorum finibus Caesar post bellum 
Helvetic um Boios collocavit. Cf. Caes. B. G. 1, 28. Ryckius. 

8. Trahebat, sc. in mm partes. Wr. Others make it = vasta- 
bat. — (I'nirissiiiia. Must dignified, most prudent. Opposed tofana- 
tiram mult it u dine in. So Or., Ddd. and Wr. According to Ernesti = 
potens, valida. 

lO. Feris ohjectus. Quae eral seditiosorum poena. Brotier. 

Cn. EjXXL — 13. Defectorcs. The partisans of Otho, viewed as 
rebels against Galba. Wr. refers it to the followers of Mariccus. But. 
that is quite too pudendum dicta ! 

14. Hata is the pred. of lex as well as of testamenia. 

15. Si temperaret .... timeres. If he had refrained from, 
etc., you would not have feared, etc. Imp. subj., where we use the 
plup. both in the protasis and the apodosis. This is not unfrequent. 
Cf. Z. 525. It has the effect of transferring completed past actions to 
the present. — Luxuriae. Al. luxuriam. But then temperaret would 
have a different meaning. Cf. note, 1, 69. As to the luxury of Vitel. 
cf. 95.3, 36. G3; Suet. 10, 13. 

18. Utroque mari. The Upper or Adriatic find Lower or Tyr- 
rhenian. 

22. Diffcrret .... won reciperet. These honors were voted 
him in the decree of the senate (57), to which this edict must be a re- 
sponse. The subj. denotes the object or design of the edict. 

23. Cum = although. Cf. Gr. 263, 5. — Pulsi .... mathematici. 
Cf. 1, 22 ; Xiphil. (65, 1) differs from T. and Suet. (Vitel. 14) as to 
the time when this act was issued. 

24. Ludo et arena. The stage and the gladiatorial arena. 
Dod. makes it = gladiatoriis ludis by hendiadys. 

25. Priores .... perpuleraut, e. g. J. Caes. (Suet. 39), Aug. 
(do. 43), et in primis Nero (do. 11. 12 ; His. 2, 71 ; 3, 62, et Ann. 



BOOK II. 341 

Page 

passim). Perpulerant is structure praegnans for perpellendo impetra-JQg 
verant. Dod. 

Ch. LXIII. — 28. Fratris. Cf. 54. — Dominationis magistris. 
Masters in the art of tyranny. So the courtiers of that age might 
well be called. — 31. Retulimus. 1, 88. 

3 2. Praetura functus. Ex-praetor ; hence a man of praetorian 
rank. Cf. consulatu functus, Ann. 1, 39, et al. 

35. Q,uae .... ageret. Subj. in a dependent clause of the oratio 
obliqua. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603, c. 

36. Nee .... probationibus. When he could furnish no proof 
to substantiate such weighty charges, he repented, etc. : but it was 
too late — Dolabella was ruined. 

38. Super re. Super with abl. = concerning, belongs 

chiefly to the silver age. Z. 320. 

4. Impulit ruentem. Precipitated his fall. Allevasse is ex-lQ4 
actly antith. to ruentem, meaning, lit. to lift up. 

Ch. LXIV. — 5. Q,uod . .-. . accepisset. The subj. here assigns 
the alleged reason for Vitellius' hatred. The ind. would give the true 
reason in the view of the author. Cf. Z. 549. See an example of the 
ind. after quod in 72 : quod .... manebat. — Petroniam. The first 
wife of Vitellius, whom he divorced. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 6. 

8. Interanmium. Al. Interamnam, which is the more common 
form. Cf. 3, 61. A town of Umbria, not far from the river Liris — 
the supposed birthplace of Tacitus (cf. Life, p. 1), now Term. 

9. In ... . taberna. At an inn on the road, by hendiadys. 

12. Onerabat. Rendered more odious; akin to our word ag- 
gravate. 

13. Noil immixta. Taking no part in. Witness her protection 
of Trachalus, 60.— Probitate, moris. Cf. Gr. 211, R. 6. 

14. Sextilia. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 3. — Quin etiam. Nay, she was 
even said, etc. Observe the position of these particles after the verb. 
T. is fond of anastrophe. Cf. note, G. 14: quin immo. 

16. Nee .... evicta. Nor by any subsequent (postea = an adj.) 
allurements of fortune, or flattering solicitations of the public, was 
she prevailed upon to join in the general rejoicings. A fine example 
of moderation (modestum exemplum) indeed ! And how touching is 
the historian's intimation of the concluding scene in the drama: do- 
mus suae tantum adversa sensit. Evincere is a favorite word with 
Tacitus and with the poets Virgil and Ovid. Cf. Or. in loco. 

Ch. LXV. — 21. Ferens = praeferens. Cf. Essay, pp. 10. 11. 

24. Diplomatibus. Cf. note, 54. — Nullum principem, sed suum 
ipsius nomen. 

25. Praescripsisset. The name of the author of a diploma or 
decree, as also of a letter, was prefixed by the ancients, by us it is 
subscribed. 

29* 



342 notes. 

Page 

104 ^' P 1111 * 1 ** ultro. Punished even, i. e. not only not rewarded, 
but furthermore punished. Cf. notes on ultro, 25. 1, 71. 

33. E praesentibus. One of the followers of Vitellius, in dis- 
tinction from one already abroad in the provinces. 
1Q5 Ch. LXVI. — 4r. Augustac Taurinorum. Cf. note on ala Tau- 
rina, 1, 59. 

8. Arsisset. Al. exarsisset, ex uno codice. Wr. Cf. note, 1,2: 
missa ; and Essay, pp. 10. 11. 

12. Vitarent. The histor. pres. (jubet) is followed often by the 
subj. imp. Cf. Z. 501. 

IT. Fercbant denotes a mere attempt ox preparation to march to 
Vienne. Cf. Gr. 145, II. 4. 

Ch. LXVII. — 20. Separati, sc. into small parties. Al. separatae. 
But it agrees with cohortes ad sensum. Cf. Gr. 205, R. 3 ; Z. 368. 

21. Lenimento is post-Augustan. Cf. Freund. — Anna . . . defe- 
rebant. They were preparing to lay down, or perhaps were gradu- 
ally (one division after another) laying down their arms. Cf. note on 
ferebant, 66. 

22. Crebresceret. Became at length (lit. was becoming) a mat- 
ter of common remark. 

Ch. LXVIII. — 29. Partes, so. victae, which need not be express- 
ed ; for it is the party of which he has just been speaking, and is fur- 
ther defined by victores in the antithesis. — Modeste. By mild meas- 
ures, such as have been described in the previous section. 

31. Bello. The fight, the quarrel in question. So Wr. But it 
may be taken of the whole civil war, which was rendered more odious 
by the number slain on this trivial occasion. — Discubuerat. Lit. had 
reclined, i. e. was banqueting. 

33. Tempestivis. Seasonable, early, earlier than usual, and so 
unusually luxurious. Cf. Note, 1, 62: medio .... temulentus. 

34. Intentus .... agit. Cf. note, A. 5: intentus agere. 

35. Indisposita. A word found only in T. Cf. Boet. Lex. Tac. 
The adv. indisposite is found in Seneca. — Pervigiliis. Pervigilia, 
quanquam res sacra (cf. Ann. 15, 44), a corruptis posterioris aetatis 
moribus malam famam habebant, ideoque pervigilia et Bacchanalia 
synonyma esse coeperunt. Wr. Render: bacchanalian vigils, by 
hendiadys. So disciplinae et castris = military discipline. 

JQg T. Agminis coactores. The rearguard, whose duty it was to 
gather up (cogerc) stragglers, reclaim deserters, etc. The word is 
found in this sense only in this single passage. Cf. Or. and Boetticher. 

12. Q,uondam .... sui. Cf. 1, 8. 

15. Fastiditi. Quorum preces bis fastidivisset — a quibus impe- 
rium bis oblatum accipere noluisset. Cf. 1, 52 ; 2, 51. 

Ch. LXIX.— 16. Senatus legatione. Cf. 55. 

IT. Pietatem. Loyalty. 



book ii. 343 

Page 

21. PrmcipiuQi .... fatls. The foreign war was with the Ba-JQg 

tavians under Civilis (Books 4 and 5, passim) : the domestic with Ves- 
pasian. 

23. Inania belli. The empty parade of war. Ad rem, cf. 1, 61 
Ad verba, cf. A. 6 : inania honoris, etc. 

25. Amputari .... mmieros. The companies to be cut downy 
i. e. so as to reduce the number of soldiers without diminishing the 
number of cohorts. 

30. Apud .... stetit. In whose day the republic was in a bet- 
ter condition, and that not because there was more money, but be- 
cause there was more virtue. Two sentences in one. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

Ch. LXX. — 3 2. Munere = spectaculo gladiatorum (cf. 67) ; called 
munus, as a present to the people. Ramshorn, 944. 

35. Intra .... diem. Within forty days after the battle; of 
course, before the bodies had gone wholly to decay — putrid, but still 
wearing the human form. 

36. Forniae. The general forms, The minute and distinguish- 
ing features were lost. 

3T. Tabo. This form (viz. after the 2d declension) is found only 
in poetry and post- Augustan prose. Cf. Freund. 

38. Inhumana. Shocking to humanity. Cf. 3, 83 : inhumana 
securitas. The Postumian way, now strewed with roses and laurels 
and lined with altars smoking with victims, as if in honor of some 
despotic prince, had been obstructed with heaps of slain in the disas- 
trous flight to Bedriaeum (cf. 44), and must have been still thickly 
strewn with their putrid corses. The contrast was truly monstrous. 

2. Q,uae fecere. Cf. 3, 18, seq., and 3, 27-34. JQ7 

8. CTamore et gaudio. Shouts of joy. So lacrimae et miseri- 
cordia = tears of compassion, by hendiadys. Foedum et atrox, just 
above, is still another instance of the fondness of Tac. for such pairs. 
Cf. note, 1, 84: domibus, etc. 

10. Et erant* There were also. — V aria fors rerum. The vi- 
cissitudes of life. 

11. Subiret. Cf. note, 1, 13: subisse. A more simple writer 
would have said : affected even to tears, making fors only the subject 
of subiret. For the subj. cf. Gr. 264, 6 ; Z. 561.— Flexit. Cf. note, 
46: flexcrat. Observe the emphatic separation of non from the verb, 
to mark the contrast between Vitellius and others. 

1 2. Tot inillia. Cf. note, 44 : strage corporum. — Laetus ultro. 
Nay, he was joyful even. Cf. note, 65 : puniri ultro. Suertonius re- 
ports a remark almost too monstrous to be imputed even to Vitellius, 
and too vile and vulgar to be recorded by Tacitus : optime olere occi- 
sum hostem, et melius civem. Cf. Vitel. 10, where, as also in Xiph. 
€5, 1, see further of this visit to the field of battle. 

Cm. LXXI.— IT. Iter, sc. Vitellii ad Roraara. 



344 NOTES. 

Pncre 

107 18. Cetero , . . . iiigenio. And all the other ingenious inven- 
tions of Nero's court. 

19. Admiratione celebrabat. He used to attend also upon 
Nero's person out of admiration for his character. Suetonius says 
(Vitel. 4, 12), Vitellius passed bis time under Nero among buffoons,, 
charioteers and wrestlers. 

20. Necessitate, qua, etc. Cf. 62 : priores .... perpulerant. 

21. Luxu. Dat. in u instead of i*/', used exclusively by Csesar 
(Gell. 4, 19), sometimes by the poets, and us several unequivocal in- 
stances by T., e. g. Ann. 3, 30 : luxu propior. Cf. Gr. 89, 3 ; Z. 81 ; 
Essay, p. 21. — Luxu . . . em pt usque = sold and given up to appetite 
and luxury, lit. bought and handed over to it, as to a master and 
owner. 

23. Dissimulatus. Silcntio praetermissus, quasi noil destinatus. 
Rup. C£ A. 80: dissimulari.— Martii Maori Cf. 23. Nothing is 
said there however or anywhere of his being designated consul. It is 
only implied here. Cf. Essay, pp. IS. 19. 

20. Omittitur. Nomen ejus in catalogo consilium a Galba des- 
tinatorum deletur. Rup. Carina and Valens were designated con- 
suls for the last two months in the year, beginning with the Kal. of 
Nov. Cf. 3, 37. Compare on this whole subject, note, 1, 77 : In . . . 
martins; also Table, p. 26. 

Ch. LXXII. — 3 1. Scriboiiianum Camerinum. The same with 
Sulpicius Camerioufl put to death, together with his son, by Helius, 
Nero's freedman. Xiph. 63, 18. So Wr, Or., Mur., etc. Others 
(from the mention of the Crassi below) identify him with M. Licinius 
Crassus, consul, a. u. c. 817, slain by Nero (Ann. 15, 33), called Scri- 
bonianus (4, 39). So Brotier and Ryckius. 

33. Histria. A peninsula near the head of the Adriatic. — Quod 
.... manebat. Cf. note, 64 : quod .... accepisset. 

36. Errore veri. Veri adds more to the sound than to the sense. 
Dod. says it is added to preserve eoncinnity with the antithetic clause. 
Cf. Essay, p. 23. 

38. Ctuisnam esset. Subj. Cf. Gr. 2G5 ; Z. 552. 

IQg 1. Geta. Geta and Davus were common names for slaves at 
Rome (cf. Ter., Plaut. and Hor. passim), both derived from the Getae 
or Daci, who were led captive and sold into slavery at Rome in great 
numbers. Cf. Anthon, Class. Die. sub voce. So, according to some, 
oar word slave is derived from the old Slavi of the North. 

2. In servilem modum. Slaves were crucified. Cf. Ann. 3, 
50 : serviles cruciatus. 

Ch. LXXIIL— 3. Quantum adoleverit. Subj. Cf. Gr. 

265 ; Z. 552. 

4r. Specnlatores, The speculators, besides being the body-guard 
of the commander-in-chief (cf. note, 1, 25),. were the official messen- 



book ii. 345 

Pagre 

gers of the legion or army to which they belonged. Cf. Suet. Cal. 44.1 Qg 
Each legion had its division of speculator es. Cf. Freund sub voce. 

7. Plerumque .... excitabatur. Was sometimes roused from 
his lethargy. Highly descriptive of the character of Vitellius. So 1, 
53 : quatiebatur segne, etc. 

9. In externos mores, i. e. externorum regum, qui non legibus 
sed nt libitum regnant. Wr. 

Ch. LXXIV.— 15. De Syria. AI. e Syria. Be with the better 
authority is also better suited to the place. De plus dicit quam e : 
nempe indicat legionem illam prius stationem suam habuisse in Syria ; 
e simpliciter significat locum, unde discessum sit. Wr. 

16. Transisset. Observe the force of the subj. : because, as he 
said within himself, it had passed. Cf. note, 64: quod . . . accepisset. 
— Ceterae .... sperabantur. Observe the attraction, instead of cete- 
ras .... secuturas sperabatur. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

18. Flammaverat. This verb is found only in poetry and post- 
Augustan prose. 

22. Sexaginta annos = se sexagenarium. Rup. 

24. Progression. Et regressum is implied, but not necessary to 
be expressed. Cf. Essay, p. 15. 

Cn. LXXV.— 30. Fluxam. Cf. note on the word, 1, 21. 

3 2. Praesenti facinori. Al. facinore. Either makes a good 
sense, and indeed essentially the same. Facinori is dat. after paratum, 
and praesenti according to Wr. is antith. to ex diverso : if one or two 
(solitary individuals) covet the reward which ever awaits a crime 
easily perpetrated (lit. at hand, on the spot) from the opposite party. 

33. Petat. Subj. in a dependent clause of the oratio obliqua. — 
Scribonianum. Cf. 1, 89, note. — 35. Singulos, sc. assassins. 

Ch. LXXVI. — 1. Coram. In their presence, sc. of the legati JQQ 
amicique. Cf. chap. 78. Observe the brachylogy. Wr. makes it = 
palam, quasi in publico. 

2. An .... sit. Subj. in an indirect question. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 
552. So adjiciat and acquiratur below. 

4. Ipse .... considerandus est. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

8. Juxta. In connection with, under. Cf. note, G. 21. 

9. Expaveris . . . fuerit. Nor should you fear . . . it would be, 
etc. Cf. notes, 1, 84: depoposcerint. — A .... propius. Cf. note, G. 
43 : protinus . . . . ab ; also 1, 10 : prope ab. 

12. Caii aut Claudii vel Xeronis. Aut implies a greater dif- 
ference than vel: Of Caligula on the one hand, or on the other of 
Claudius or Nero. Cf. Rams. Syn. 138 ; and note, A. 17, G. 15: vel 
.... vel. — 13. Exsurgirnus, tanquam ex insidiis. Rup. 

14. Galbae imagiiiibus = Galbae propter antiquitatem nobilita- 
temque generis. Cf. Suet. Galb. 2. 

IT. Traiisvectum est. Cf. A. 18. Only T. uses the word in 



346 NOTES. 

Paffe 

JQQ reference to*time. Observe here, as in so many other places, the pairs 

of words nearly synonymous: abiit et transvcctum est, sopor et igna- 

via, ardoris ac ferociae, popinis et commissationibus. The sentiment 

of this and the following clause is : it is too late for you to hope that 

you will merely seem {rider i is emphatic) to have coveted the throne ; 

nobody doubts that you have, and now the throne is your only place of 

refuge and safety. 

18. Excidit, sc. de memoria tua. Rup. Corbulo was put to 
death by Nero, though, had he ventured on it, he might have de- 
throned the riddling emperor. Cf. Xiph. 63, 17. 

23- Nullis stipendiis. Without military experience. — Galbae 
odio. The hatred of the soldiers towards Galba. 

21:. \e Othonem .... fecit. Two distinct thoughts are blended 
in this sentence : 1. Otho was not conquered by the skill of Vitellius 
or the power of his army, but, etc.; 2. Even Otho is now regretted 
and honored in comparison with Vitellius. Cf. note, chap. 69: apud 
.... sfrtit. 

26. Sparsit ministrat. Cf. 66 and 67. The disarmed 

praetorians and disbanded legions carried with them the spirit of disaf- 
fection. 

Cu. LXXVII. — 3 7. Triumphale iiomcn. Awarded by Claudius 
for his services in Britain. Cf. A. 13 ; Suet. Vesp. 4. Nomen = 
honor, decus. — Duo jurrnrs. Titus and Pomitian. 

38. Alter. Titus. — Cu pax jam imperii. He was now 27 years 
old. 
]J() 2. Cedere imperio. Cedcrc, to p-jvc up, takes the dat of the 
person with either the ace. or abl. of the thing. Cf. Z. 413. 

8. Hos .... illi. Hos here refers to the former, Mi to the latter. 
Cf. Gr. 207, R. 23. 

lO. Aperiet ... bellum. Almost a translation of Demos. Phil. 
1, 44. Recludet is peculiar to poetry and post-Augustan prose. 

1 2. Parsimonia. Economy, which provides the sinews of war. 
Cf. 84. 

14. Q,ui deliberant, desciverunt. Cf. A. 15; Plut. Galb. 4, 
same sentiment. This speech well befits a politician, such as Mucia- 
nus is described to be, chap. 5. 

Ch. LXXVIII. — IT. Vatum. Used here in its primary sense: 
prophets, diviners. The secondary and more frequent sense is: sacred 
poets, bards. — 18. Intactus, sc. Vespasian. 

•19. Rerum dominus, i.e. emperor. — Mathematicum. Cf. note, 
1,22. 

22. Repente. Suet. (Vesp. 5) says: sine ulla vi. Xiph. (66, 1), 
on the contrary, says, it was by a violent wind. " Tarn parum sibi 
constant prodigia." Brotier. — 24. Haruspicum. Cf. note, 1, 27. 

28. Judaeam inter. The position of the prep, here is a pecu- 



BOOK IL 34*7 

Pag:e 
liarity of T. (cf. verbera inter, A. 31 ; Z. 324) ; though the best prose JJQ 
writers frequently place the prep, between the adj. and subs. Cf. note, 
2, 37 : magna ex parte. — Carmelus. A mountain in Galilee on the 
Mediterranean. Two others in Palestine bore the same name, which 
properly denotes a garden-like fertility and beauty. Cf. Isaiah, 35, 2; 
" the excellency of Carmel." 

29. Deumque, sc. cujus oraculum in monte fuit. Cf. Suet. Vesp. 
5 ; Oros. 7, 9. Or. thinks it was the old Philistine god of war. 

30. Sic tradidere, etc. Al. situm tradidere, etc., by conjecture. 
The passage, as it stands in the text and in the MSS., is elliptical and 
concise = sic tradidere majores, i. e. tradidere aram tantum, etc Wr. 

34:. Ampliare servitia = augere numerum servitiorum. Rup. 
Ampliare and prolatare are both used here in a sense peculiar to poe- 
try, or to the age of T, 

35. Has ambages. These obscure prophetic intimations. Cf. 
4: per ambages. Cf. Suet. Vesp. 5. 7, for a fuller and somewhat dif- 
ferent account of these and other oracles and prodigies. 

36. Et statim . . . et tunc. Cf, note, 1, 17: statim . . . et mox. 
Ch. LXXIX. — 1» Haud . . . . destinatione, i. e. with a settled]^ 

plan or purpose. 

2. Antiochiam, Caesaream. Places familiar to us in sacred, 
even more than in profane history. Cf. Acts, passim. — Ilia, the for- 
mer ; haec, the latter. Dod, follows the Medicean MS. in reading 
hoc, agreeing with caput. 

3. Iuitium .... coeptum. Cf. note, G. 30 : initium inchoare. 
Wr. says : coepisse Tacito est i-mxti^v. See Essay, p. 20. — Ferendi. 
Ernest i prefers defer endi. But cf. note, 1, 2: missa. 

T. Ctuinto Nonas Julias = July 3d. Suet. (Vesp. 6) says: 
quinto idus Jul. T. is proved to be correct. — Jurasset. Subj. after 
quamvis, as usual in T. and Cic, though most of the later writers 
construe quamvis with the ind. 

lO. Noil parata condone. Without any formal harangue; 
such as it was usual for new aspirants or nominees to the throne to 
make, e. g. Otho, 1, 36 ; Galba, Suet. Galb. 18 ; and others. 

Ch. LXXX. — 13. Prima vox. The first salutation or nomina- 
tion. — Spes . . . casus. Observe the asyndeton and the antith. pairs : 
hope, fear ; principle, chance, i. e. the principles to be adopted and 
the chances to be met. 

15. Assistentes, sc. cubiculo ; the guards of the bedchamber. 

16. Caesareni .... cumulare. Observe the zeugma. Cf. Es- 
say, p. 16. 

IT. Mens. Cujus mens? Vespasiani. Ernesti. Amicorum Ves- 
pasiani. Wr. and Or. Militum ceterorum praeter illos, qui salutavere. 
Rup. Ruperti is right ; for ceteri doubtless refers to the soldiers ; and 
the transition from them to Vespasian himself is marked by in ipso. 



348 NOTts. 

I IJThe whole army, having sworn allegiance to Vitellius, feared to utter 
the prima vox; but that having been uttered by a few, they passed 
from fear to the enjoyment of their unexpected good fortune. 

18. In ipso, etc. Josephus (B. J. 4, 36), writing under the influ- 
ence of the Flavian dynasty says, that Vespasian was forced to accept 
the throne by the threats and violence of the soldiers* This may serve 
to illustrate the impartiality of T., who has been sometimes thought 
too partial to Vespasian and Titus. 

20. Mutationis. Al. multitudinis, altitudinis, vicissitudinis, etc. 
Mutationis is the only reading which resembles the Medicean MS. and 
at the same time makes a good sense. — Militant er. In the language 
of a soldier, i. e. rough and unpolished. 

21. Laeta . . . excepiU Found (in return for his speech) every 
thing auspicious, and resources flowing in upon him from every side, 
Cf. A. 29: affluebnt. 

23. Ubi .... mos est. The Greeks transacted public business 
not unfrequently in the theatre. Cf. Demos, pro Cor. 53 ; Cic. pro 
Flac. 27 ; Acts, 12, 21 ; 19, 29-31. 

25. Graeca facundia. He addressed them in the Greek lan- 
guage, which had been diffused by the couquests of Alexander over 
all southwestern Asia. 

3 1. Stipendiorum. 1. Soldiers' pay ; 2. Military service, as here. 

Cm. LXXXI. — 31. Sohemus, king of the country called Sophene. 
Ann. 13, 7. — Antiochus, king of Commagene. Ann. 12,55. — Agrippa 
II., king of part of.Iudea. Ann. 13, 7. — Berenice. Cf. note, chap. 2, 
above. 

112 ^' ^ D urDe ' From Rome, whither he set out to go with Titus, 
and continued his journey when Titus turned back at Corinth. Cf. 
chap. 1, supra; also 1, 10. 

5. Q,uidquid .... patescit. The several maritime provinces, 
ivith Asia, and Achaia and the whole inland country between Pontus 
and the two Armenias. Murphy. Ad verba, cf. 6 . quantum .... 
cingitur ; and G. 30 : in ... . patescit. 

9. Beryti. An ancient and illustrious city of Phoenicia, with a 
port on the Mediterranean (cf. Strab. 16 ; Plin. N. H. 5, 20) : familiar 
in modern history and the history of missions, as Beirut (Beyroot) in 
Syria. 

1 2. Decora is used in a poetical sense for corpora. Cf. Boetticher. 

Ch. LXXXII. — 30. Instare Judaeae, i. e. prosecute the war in 
Judea. 

33. Ac .... fatis. And this fact, or this consideration, that 
nothing is too hard for destiny. By attraction for ac quod nihil ar- 
duum esset fatis. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

113 Ch. LXXXIII.— 1. Majora .... absentious. Compare A. 30: 
omne ignotum pro magnifico est* 



book ii. - 349 

Paffe 

2. Vexillariorum. Cf. note, 1, 31 : vexilla. -jio 

3. Classem e Ponto. A fleet of forty ships (Keg. 2, 9), which 
guarded the coast of Pontus. Lipsius. 

4-. Adigi. To be conducted. — Dyrrhachiuni, Brundisium, Ta- 
rentum. These were the principal seaports on the Upper Sea, or 
Adriatic — Dyrrhachium in Illyricum, Brundisium in Calabria, and 
Tarentum in Lucania. Securing possession of these, the first by his 
land-forces, the other two by his fleets, Mucianus could protect 
Achaia, Asia and all the East. Brundisium was connected with 
Rome by the Appian Way. Cf. Hor. Sat. 1, 5. 

5. Longis navibus. Ships of war. (Greek, vrjes pdicpai)* The 
proper merchant-vessel was broader and rounder (cTpoyyvXr)). — Versum 
in. Cf. note on versus, G. 1 ; also 1, 76: versae in = lying to- 
wards, bordering on. Versum . . . mare. Seas of Italy. Murphy. 

9. Sibi = a se, sc. Muciano. Gr. 225, II. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

Ch. LXXXIV.— 13. Eos nervos. Eos for eas. Cf. Z.372. 

Ad rem, cf. Cic. Phil. 5, 2: nervi civilis belli pecunia infinita. 

18. Ad . . . . iniquitates. To secure unjust gains. Cf. Liv. 
29, 1 : pertinaces ad obtinendam injuriam. 

19. Haud . . . obstiiiante, &c, sc. se,or animum : not applying 
himself so per sever in gly, sc. as he did at a later period in his reign. 
Avarice is mentioned by Suet. (16. 22) and Xiph. (66, 14) as the 
only vice of Vespasian, and this is excused on the ground of his lib- 
erality in adorning Rome with grand and useful works. 

21. Largus .... sumeret. Lit. liberal privately as to that 
(sc. money), which he took greedily from the public purse. 

23. Rarissimus quisque. Very few. 

Ch. LXXXV. — 25. Coepta. Cf. note, 79 : initium . . . coeptum. 

2T. Erat. Gr. 209, R. 12, (2.) Render: these (the other le- 
gions) were the eighth and seventh. Lit. it was, etc. 

29. Aquileiam progressae. Ad rem, cf. 46. — Proturbatis = 
spretis, rejectisque. Rup. 

30. Q,ui .... mmtiabant, sc. his defeat and death. Cf. Suet. 
Vesp. 6. 

3 1 . Pecunia here refers to the treasury of the army. 

4. Ex nuntiis. According to the news he received. Cf. G. 7 : 11 A 
ex virtute, note. 

Ch. LXXXVI. — 9. Falsi. Forgery. A very common crime 
among the later Romans. Cf. Smith's Die. sub voce. Antonius was 
banished by Nero, and recalled by Galba and raised to the rank of 
senator. Ann. 14, 40. Xiph. 65, 9. Yet he is greatly praised by 
Martial, 9, 101 ; 10, 23. 

16. Raptor. Ant. to largitor. A plunderer and a prodigal. Mur. 

19. Consularibus legatis. The governors named in the next 
sentence. 

30 



350 NOTES. 

Page 

111 2°* Tenebant == obtinebant. Cf. 1, 11, and Essay, pp. 10, 11. 

21. Procurator, fortasse utriusque provinciae. Rup. — AderaU 
Favored Vespasian. 24:. Colouiae suae. Of his native colony. 
1]5 Ch. LXXXVII. — 2. Procacissimis . . . ingeniis. Of all classes 
of slaves even, the camp-servants being the most riotous. Lixarum 
seems to be used as a synonym with ealonum, to avoid repetition. Cf. 
Essay, p. 23. Calones were properly wood-carriers (from cala, old 
Latin for fastis), and lixae, water-drawers (from lixa, obs. for aqua). 
The former = camp-servants, the latter = cooks. The words are 
usually associated together, e. g. 1, 49 ; 3, 20 ; 3, 33. 

9. Aniicitiarum delioiiestameiitis = amicis inhonestis. 

11. Ipsi . . . arvaque = ipsa cultorum arva, by hendiadys. Rup. 

This' section contains a highly graphic description, in few words, 
of a very ludicrous yet sad scene. 

Ch. LXXXV11I— 1 1. Seditiouem Ticini. Cf. 68. 

15. Ubi .... consensu. Whenever they had to contend with 
the country people, they (the legions and auxiliaries) acted in con- 
cert. The language is very concise. Consensu is ant. to discordia. 
The subj. imp. is here used to denote an action of repeated occur- 
rence. Cf Gr. 964, 12 ; Z. 56ft. 

19. Vernacula .... urbanitate. They were practising the re- 
finement (trickery) characteristic of homebred slaves, sc. in cutting 
the belts of the soldiers, &c. Vernacula more commonly means na- 
tive, vernacular. But cf. Ann. 1,31 : vernacula multitudo = a mul- 
titude of slaves. Al. ut rcbantur for utebantur. But the latter is 
found in all the MS& 

23. Caesus, 11011 a fllio, sed ab alio quodam milite, ira in omnes 
paganos accensa. 

24:. Agnitus, sc. 11011 esse e scurris illis (paganis), sed militis 
pater. Wt 

26. In quo . . . . jacuisset. The subj. here denotes not the mere 
fact that Galba had fallen, but the influence it had on the minds of 
the soldiers. 

28. Cum .... vitareut. Cum causalis = since, and followed 
by the subj. 

Ch. LXXXIX.— 33. Poute Mulvio. Cf. note, 1, 87, and Essay, 
p. 20. 

34. Paludatus accinctusque. Military attire, in which Vitel- 
lius proposed to enter the city, but which, at the instance of his 
friends, he exchanged for the robe of state (sumpta praetexta). 
Suetonius makes him to have entered the city paludatus ferroque 
succinctus (Vitel. 11). 
Tig 3. Ante aquilani, i. e. before the eagle of each legion (there 
were four) marched the praefects, tribunes, &c. of that legion. So 
Wr. and Dod. explain the singular number. 



BOOK II, 351 

Page 
7. 'Son .... dignus, sed alio meliore principe. Rup. -i~io 

Ch. XC. — lO. Alterius civitatis. Another city, i. e. a foreign 

one, where his vices were unknown. Alterius = alius. Cf. A. 17. 

15. Adulationes = adulationis formulae. Wr. 

16. Astrepebat is post- Augustan and particularly frequent in 
T. Cf. Freund sub voce. 

IT. Tarn frustra. To as little purpose, sc. because he enjoyed 
it for so short a time. The language here is very concise and ellipti- 
cal, two clauses being thrown into one, thus : they forced him to ac- 
cept it ; he did accept it, but to as little purpose, etc. Cf. note, 76 : 
ne . . . Othonem fecit. Dod. connects frustra with expressere hi the 
sense of falso, thus : they extorted from him an acceptance with as 
little sincerity as he had previously declined the honor. 

Ch. XCI. — 19. Interpretantem. Putting a superstitious con- 
struction upon. 

20. Q,uod .... edixisset. Cf. note, 74 : transisset. 

22. Cremerensi clade. The defeat and slaughter of the 300 
Fabii at the river Cremera, a. u. c. 277. 

23. Alliensi. The same of the Roman army at the river Allia, 
a. u. c. 364, by the Gauls under Brennus. 

The day on which these disasters befell the Romans, was ever after 
deemed unlucky : and on such days no important business might be 
transacted. 

2\. Expers. Ignorant or regardless. — Pari. Equal, sc to 
that of Vitellius. 

25. Comitia consulum. Cf. note, 1, 14: comitia imperii; also 
Smith's Die. Ant. sub voce. Render : But frequenting the consular 
elections with his (favorite) candidates, just like a common citizen 
(civiliter), i. e. soliciting votes for them, &c. This was in the senate, 
who at this time had the nominal power, and went through the form 
of electing consuls. The remainder of the sentence introduces another 
illustration of his excessive condescension, viz. his conduct in the 
theatre and the circus, among the common people. In a less concise 
writer it would have been thrown into a distinct sentence or clause. 

29. Vitae prioris. Cf. notes, chap. 71. 

31. Priscus Helvidius. Cf. A. 2, note. — Praetor designatus, 
i. e. prcetor elect, but not yet inducted into office. 

3 2. Xon .... ultra. Ellipsis of saemit, or some other verb : 
did not, however, proceed further than to call — lit. no more than 
called. 

3T. Thraseae. Cf. note, A. 2. 

38. Ctuod legisset. Cf. quod .... dissentirent and quod .... 
edixisset, just above. 

Ch. XCII. — 3. A . . . . cohortis, i. e. from being commander of J]7 
a cohort. This clause, and the corresponding one, turn centurionem, 



352 NOTES. 

Page 

1] 7 are added to denote a sudden elevation from a low to a high post. Cf. 
1, 46 : e manipularibus, etc. 

11. Nee .... potentia. Nor indeed is power ever very secure 
when it is excessive; a general remark, suggested by the balance of 
power wavering between Caecina and Valens, as Vitellius inclined to 
favor the one or the other. 

1 2. Simul. At the same time (that Vitellius vacillated between 
them) they in turn both despised and feared Vitellius himself, who 
capriciously indulged in sudden bursts of displeasure or extrava- 
gant expressions of attachment, according to his humor. Dod. makes 
offensis and blanditiis datives. 

16. Patriae .... reddiderat, but not to the possession of their 
estates. Hence flebilis ct egens. 

IT. Gratum is ace, agreeing with the object of approbavit, viz. 
the clause, quod .... conccssisset. 

19. Jura libertorum. Cf. Essay, p. 12. Their rights over their 
freedtnen. Patrons were entitled to service, and if necessary, support, 
from their freedmen ; also to inherit one-half of their estates. Lipsius. 

20. Servilia ingenia = liberti, quibus servile ingenium est. Rup. 
— Abditis .... sinus. By concealing their wealth in obscure places, 
or depositing it in the custody of the great. So Dod. Or. under- 
stands by occultns sinus the hands (lit. bosoms) of obscure persons. 

Cii. XCIII. — 28. Infamibus. Notorious, sc. for their unhealthy 
air, as the Vatican is to this day. The pontifical palace stands there ; 
but the pontiffs seldom reside in it. Cf. Arnold's chap, on the climate, 
&c. of Italy, His. Rom. vol. 1, chap. 23. 

29. Germanoruni .... corpora, sc. because accustomed to a 
colder climate. 

30. Fluminis is objective gen. = bibendi ex flumine aviditas. 

3 2. Sedecim. praetoriae, etc. An increased number. Cf. 
note, 1, 20. 

33. Q,uis . . . inessent. In which there were to be, when the 
levy was complete. They were now being enrolled (scribebantui). 
The subj. here denotes an intention, not a fact. 

3 5. Sane. In truth; justifying in some measure the claim of 
Valens. Cf. note on sane, 1, 12. 

3 8. Unde .... fluitasse. Caecina proved a traitor. Cf. 100. 
118 ^ H * ^CIV. — 7. Convulsum . . . decus. The order and beauty 
of the praetorian camp was destroyed, viz. by the very same means 
which withdrew from the legions and squadrons abroad their main 
strength. 

lO. Q,uod .... bellassent. Observe again the force of the 
subj. to denote the reason assigned by the soldiers. 

14. Liberti principum. The freedmen of former emperors, 
who, as belonging to the state, passed from one imperial family to 



book ii. 353 

Page 

another So Wr. Lipsius and Ernesti understand by principum thei i o 
principal men. 

15* Stabula .... circum, etc. Agreeably to his early life and 
habits. Cf. note, chap. 71. 

Ch. XCV. — 19. Tota urbe vicatim. Through all the streets of 
the city, of which there were 424. Brotier. The abl. with the adj. 
tota is generally used without in. Cf. Z. 482. 

21. Invidiae. By enallage for invidiosum. — Quod . . . fecisset. 
Ad rem, cf. Suet. Vitel. 11. Xiph. 65. 7 ; also above, 71. 

24t. Ut .... regi. As Romulus had instituted one (not the same 
order, but the Titienses) in honor of King Tatius. For the Titienses 
and the Augustales, cf. Smith's Die. sub voce. 

26. Polyclitos, etc. Cf. note, 1, 37. — Vetera . . . nomina. And 
other odious freedmen of former emperors. 

33. Vinios .... Asiaticos. Titus Vinius and Icelus. Cf. 1, 13. 
— Fabios, i. e. Fabius Valens. 

35. Marcellus. Cf. 53, above. He was the favorite minister of 
Vespasian, as Vinius and Icelus of Galba, and Fabius and Asiaticus 
of Vitellius. 

Ch. XCVL— 38. Aponio Saturnino. Cf. 85. 

1. Neque = et non, correlative to et amici. 1 JQ 

3. Mollius. Cf. note, 1, 18: in majus, and Essay, p. 12. 

4r. Constare = constantem, firmam esse. Rup. 

6. Exauctoratos. Ad verbum, cf. note, 1, 23. Ad rem, 67. 82, 
above. — Dispergi. Cf. note, chap. 1. 

8. Q,ui .... coerce rent = to restrain. 

9. Id ... . erat. Compare the sentiment with 1, 17 : male .... 
augebant. 

Ch. XCVII. — 1 1. Perinde . . . cunctabantur. The command- 
ers and the provinces were as tardy in their movements as Vitellius. 
The reasons for this follow. 

1 4. Ambigui. Wavering in their allegiance. Uterque takes a 
pi. pred. sometimes in T., never in Cic. Z. 367. Cf. note, chap. 50. 

21. Favorabilem. Popular. A word not used in the Augustan 
age. 

22. Famosum .... egerat. Suet. (Vesp. 4) gives a more favor- 
able account of Vespasian's government in Africa. But he felt 
obliged to natter the Flavian dynasty, being one of the scriptores tern- 
porum. Cf. 100, below. Compare also note, 80: in ipso. 

23. Proinde. Hence, accordingly, i. e. the Africans augured 
worse of the reign of Vespasian than of that of Vitellius. AI. perinde. 

Ch. XC VIII.— 25. Legatus, sc. legionis in Africa. Cf. 4, 49. 

35. Etesiarum flatu. The trade-winds, lit. the annual winds 
(stos, irTjaiai.). Sufficiently explained in Leverett and Liddell and 
Scott. 

30* 



354 NOTES. 

Page 

jig Ch. XCIX.— -38. Expediri. Al. expedire. But without MS. 
authority. Cf. Ann. 15, 10: expediri . . . jussit ; alsoVirg. Aeneid : 
flammam inter et hostes expedior. 

120 ^ # Meditato. Al. meditanti, and meditantis. But meditato is 
nearest to the MSS. which read mcditatio ; and it accords with the 
usage of T. who often puts the past part, of dep. verbs in an aorist 
sense for the present. Cf. 3, 25: placatos manes. So Wr and Dod. 

Ch. C— 18. Vexilla. Cf. note, 1, 31. The MSS. differ much, 
and are manifestly corrupt in the specification of the legions to which 
these vexillaries belonged. The reading given in the text is that of 
Bekker, Ritter, Ruperti and Duebner, and accords with the enumera- 
tion in 3, 22, where there are no various readings. 

2-Jl. Immutatum. This word is sometimes used as an adj., when 
it means unchanged ; here it is a part, and means changed. Cf. 
Z. 328. 

26. Cremonain. Cf. note, 2, 17. The legions ordered to Cre- 
mona were Rapax and Italica, as appears infra, 3. 14. The rest went 
to Hostilia. Cf. 3, 21. 

2T. Hostiliam. A village on the Po ; now Ostiglia, in the 
neighborhood of Cremona. — Rarcunam. Cf. note, 9 : Misenensi. 

28. Patavii. The birthplace of Livy ; now Padua. 

Ch. CI. — 38. Corruptas . . . adulationem. Exhibited in false 
colors for the sake of flattery. — Causas, sc. proditionis illius Caecinae 
et Bassi. 

121 *" ^°k* s = niihi. — Super = praeter. 

3. Ipsum videntur, sc. Caecina and Lucilius. Ipsum is ant. to 
apud : that they might not be surpassed by others in the estimation 
of Vitellius, they appear to have ruined Vitellius himself. Al. antei- 
retur and videtur, with Caecina alone for the subject. But why in 
that case should the name of Caecina be repeated at the beginning of 
the next sentence ? The text is that of Or. and the Medicean MS. 



BOOK III. 

104. Ch. I. — 2. Poetovionem. A town in the borders of Noricum 
and Pannonia, on the river Drave ; now Pettau. 

3. Obstrui .... Alpes, i. e. more fully guarded, closed up; they 
were already praesidiis -insessae (cf. 2, 98), but only so as to inter- 
cept the passage of messengers : nuntios retinebant. 

4t. Consurgeret. Rise up together, i. e. accumulate near the field 
of action. 



book in. 355 

Page 

5. Constantius foret. Would be the firmer (holder) course, ~[C)A 
Subj. of the indirect question. Cf. Gr. 265. Z. 552. 

T. Advenisse .... Vitellio. Had just arrived on the side of 
Vitellius, not with him, for he was at Rome. Cf. chap. 36, below. But 
it is an unusual sense for cum; and mox in the sense of just now, a 
little before, is, so far a%I know, without a precedent in T. or any 
other writer before Columella. Cf. Leverett, sub voce. Rup. suggests 
nova jam instead of mox cum. 

13. Velut .... "belli. As if for another war, than one with 
Vitellius, i. e. the Jewish. Cf. note, 2, 90 : alterius civitatis. 

Ch. II. — 18. In procinctu. In readiness for battle; lit. girt up 
for action. 

22. Et Ms. Both these (already in the field) would recover their 
strength, and Germany was not far distant, whence they might 
draw fresh forces. Et correl. to neque = et non. Cf. note, 1, 15 : 
neque ipse. 

24. Utrimque, sc. ab Germania Britanniaque, et e Galliis His- 
paniisque. 

26. Si ... . velint. Cf. note, 1,32: si poeniteat. — Duas classes, 
sc. Misenensem et Ravennatem. 2, 100. 

2T. Illyricum mare. That part of the Adriatic which washes 
the shore of Illyricum. 

29. Q,uin interrog. = qui (old abl.) ne (non): why not ; used 
with the ind., the subj. 1st pi., and the imp. by way of exhortation, 
and, unlike cur non, expects no answer. Cf. Z. 542. 

31. Integras. Non fractas bello. Brotier. The Moesian troops 
were not in the battle at Bedriacum. 

33. Putetur for computetur. Cf. Essay, pp. 10, 11. It is im- 
plied here, that the legions of Vitellius were not full. 

2. Pulsu, sc. armorum, sonitu equorum, nube pulveris. J25 

4. Idem .... ero. / will execute, as well as propose the plan. 

5. Vos .... est. You, whose fortune is unimpaired. That of 
Antonius was already ruined, so that he had nothing to lose. Cf. 2, 86. 

Ch. III. — 11« Permoveret is stronger than mover et ; deeply, 
thoroughly (i. e. throughly) moved. 

13. Sui. In regard to himself. Objective gen. Cf. note, G. 
28 : conditoris sui. — Ea .... condone. In that original assembly. 
The reference is to a former meeting of the mass in Pannonia. Cf. 
2,86. 

15. Hue .... interpretatione. Intending to put this or that 
construction on his language, as might be expedient. Al. interpre- 
tationem. 

16. Couduxisset is plup. to correspond with commoverat. Gr. 
258. — Descendisse in causam seems to be an allusion to the arena. 

IT. Gravior .... socius. And for that reason, he was a more 



356 * NOTES. 

* 
PR « e 
iqK influential associate whether of guilt or glory, i. e. more influential 

in leading others to share with him in any enterprise, whatever might 
be its issue. So Wr. and Dod. Al. gratior, with this sense: And 
for that reason, he was more popular with the soldiers, since he shared 
with them their guilt or glory, as the result might be. Either makes 
a good sense. I have preferred gravior, as ^he reading of the best 
MSS. and the more difficult reading. 

Ch. IV.— 19. Cornclii Fusci. Titus . . . Flavianus. Cf. 2, 86. 
— Is quoque. He also, i. e. he, as well as Antonius. 

22. Cunctatior, sc. than Fuse us and Antonius. Al. cunctator. 

23. Affinitatis. Flavianus was related to Vitellius. Cf. 10, infra. 
— Coeptante . . . motu. Cf. 2, 86. 

24. Perfidiae .... crederjatur, i. e. he was believed to have 
returned to Pannonia with the design of betraying the cause of Ves- 
pasian, which he professed to espouse. 

26. Discrimini exemptuin is added to show that he was under 
no necessity of returning: he returned from love of change, when he 
was already beyond the reach of danger. 

Ch. V. — 31. Ut impune .... foret. That it might be safe and 
advantageous. Observe the enallage. 

3 2. Aponio Saturnine Governor of Moesia. Cf. 1, 79. Ob- 
serve the omission of ut before celeraret. Cf. Gr. 262, R. 4. 

3*1. lazygum. A people of Sarmatia Europaea, on this side of 
the Palus Mceotis. Murphy. 

35. Plebem, sc. for foot-soldiers. 

36. Remissum. Declined. Cf. 4, 11 : remitter e nomen. 

31. Externa molirentur. Build up a foreign interest, hostile 

to the Roman. — Ex diverso. From the opposite party, sc. the Vitelliau. 

J2() *■• Sido is mentioned Ann. 12, 29. 30. Italicus was perhaps the 

son of Sido, and called rex only by birth. Cf. note, 2, 25 : rex 

Epiphanes. 

2. Fidei .... patientior. Lit. more susceptible of confidence 
reposed in them, and by implication more observant of their own 
plighted faith. Cf. Or. ad loc. — Posita in latus. Posted on the con- 
fines, sc. of Raetia, because it was hostile (infesta R&tia). 

5. Ala Auriana. So called either from Auria, a city in Spain, or 
from an unknown praefect (Aurius). Cf. notes on ala, 1, 59. and 1, 70. 

6. Aeni. The river Inn, a branch of the Danube. 

7. Nee qualifies tentantibus only; it does not limit transacta. 
Ch. VI. — 9. Vexillarios, etc., i. e. he took only the veteran in- 

• fantry and a portion of the cavalry, leaving the legions as he proposed, 
2, supra. 

10. Rapienti. Hurrying on, marching with rapidity. 

11. Ctuam gloriam, sc. viri bello strenui. — Et .... Corbulo. 
Both his service under Corbulo, etc. Corbulo was a distinguished 



BOOK III. 357 

Pago 

commander in the reigns of Claudius and Nero, in Germany (Ann. ic)£ 
11, 18), in Armenia (Ann. 13, 8), Syria and Parthia (14, 24 ; 15,25. 
et al) ; put to death by Nero. H. 2, 76. 

12. Secretis .... sermonibus. In private interviews with 
Nero. Al. rumoribus, with less authority and a less appropriate 
sense. 

14. Primum pilum. Cf. 1,31: primipilaribus, note: having 
obtained the office of first centurion through the scandalous favor 
(of Nero) thus gained (unde, i. e. criminando Corbulonem), his pres- 
ent prosperity, ill acquired, afterwards proved his ruin, perhaps 
under Domitian, who married the daughter of Corbulo. Ryckius. 

16. Occupata . . . quaeque. Al. occupantes Aquileiae proxima 
quaeque. Having gained possession of Aquileia, they are received 
into all the neighboring places, etc. Aquileia, Altinum and Opiter- 
gium were towns at or near the head of the Adriatic, in the territory 
of the Veneti. The names of the last two are still preserved in 
Oderzo and the ruined tower of Altino. — In is not found in any MS. 
Baiter would supply per instead of it. Dod. leaves proxima quaeque 
without a preposition, as ace. of place. 

19. Patavium. Cf. note, 2, 100. — Ateste was near Patavium, 
in the territory of Venice ; now Este. 

21. Forum Allieni. Now Ferrara on the Po. 

22. Id quoque, sc. that they were off their guard, as well as that 
they were there. 

23. Praedictum = praeceptum, mandatum. Cf. note, 4, 53 : 
praedixere. 

Ch. VII. — 27. Vulgata victoria limits veniunt, and together 
with post principia . . . Flavianos assigns the reason for the coming 
of the two legions : When this victory was published abroad, now 
that (post, lit. after) the commencement of the war was favorable to 
the Flavian party. 

28. Duae legiones. Al. datae legiones. These two legions be- 
longed in Pannonia (2, 86), the 7th under the command of Antonius 
(ibid.), the 13th under that of Vedius Aquila (2, 44). Antonius had 
left them behind at first (cf. 2, supra : continete legiones) ; but now 
they were glad to share with him in his victories, agreeably to his pre- 
diction : juvabit sequi, etc. 

31. Praefectus castrorum. Cf. note, 2, 26. — Adductius. With 
tighter rein. Cf. note, G. 4. The use of the adv. in this sense is pe- 
culiar to T. Boetticher. 

33. Desiderata .... res, sc. the restoration of Galba to due 
honor ; for his memory became dear after the crimes and calamities 
of the next two reigns. Dod., Rup. and Rit. refer res more specifically 
to the military discipline of Galba, suggested by the same severity 
just mentioned of Minucius Justus. 



358 no n.s. 

Pa^e 

19£ ***** ^* ' ' * ' cre derentur« Lit. 1/ the reign of Galba were 
believed to please him (Antonius), and the party of Galba to be re- 
vived by him. — Principatus and partes are both subj. nom. of cre- 
derentur. 

Ch. VIII. — 38, Verona. An ancient city on the Adige, near 
Bedriacum (cf. 2, 23) ; still called Verona. It was the birthplace of 
Catullus. 

127 3. In ... . videbatur. It seemed to be for their interest and 
their honor. — Possessa. Was taken. 

4. Vicctia. Now Vicenza. 

1. Pretium iuit. They reaped solid advantages, not a mere 
name, as at Vicetia. — Exemplo, sc. influencing others to join the 
party. 

8. Et .... exercitus, etc. And (as an additional recommenda- 
tion of Verona as the seat of the war) troops had been thrown in 
between Ratia and the Julian Alps (cf. 5, supra: ad occupandam 
. . . missus), and had thus closed up the entrance against the German 
armies. — Interject us. Sub. erat. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

lO. Quae. All these movements subsequent to the occupation of 
Aquileia. 

12. Consilium. His policy, his reasons for such a course. — 
Quando, since, like quoniam (cf. note, 2, 11), introduces a subjective 
reason or motive. Cf. Z. 34G. 

13. Claustra annonae. Egypt was the Roman granary for 
com, and the Egyptians prided themselves on thus holding in their 
hands plenty or famine for Rome. Cf. Plin. Panegyr. 31. — Vectigalia 
. . . proviticiarum, sc. of the East. 

C11. IX. — 31. Aponius .... advenit. From Mcesia, 2, 85. 

3 2. Vipstanus Messala. A distinguished orator, hence one of 
the interlocutors in the Dial, de Clar. Orat. 14-23 ; also a writer of 
the history of his age. Chaps. 25. 28. infra. 

33. Q,ui .... attulisset. Qui = talis, ut. Hence followed 
by the subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 1 ; Z. 558. So quod .... corrumperet 
below. 

128 ^* * >rioris fortunae. Their defeat under Otho. 

4r. De exercitu. Al. de exitu, but that idea is involved in pro 
causa : Touching the (much vaunted German) army fearless. Cf. 
Or. ad loc. — Praesumpsere. Dared to speak out beforehand, before 
the result could be known, before the usual or proper time. See Dod.'s 
explanation, Essay, p. 15. 

5. Facta .... spe. The hope being held out, in addition, to the 
tribunes and centurions, of Vitellius' party. 

Ch. X. — 14r. In ... . fronte, i. e. on the side fronting the enemy. 
— Valli, sc. struendi ; gen. after opus. 

16. Ut .... militum. The anger of the soldiers as if for 



book in. 359 

Pa^e 

treachery. Proditionis is obj. gen. after ira. Cf. Liv. 5, 33: ira ^w-lOQ 
ruptae uxoris. The subj. gen. (inilitum) is also added. Cf. Cic. de 
N. 6 : canum adulatio dominorum. See another construction, Essay, 
p. 14. — 21. Q,uauquani . . . teuderet. Cf. note, 5, 21 : quanquam. 

22. Pectus .... quatiens = convulsed with sobbing. The ex- 
pression is Virgilian. Cf. Aen. 5, 199. 200: creber anhelitus artus 
Aridaque ora quatit. 

28. Crudescere. Ad verbum, cf. Virg. Geor. 3, 504 ; Aen. 7, 788. 

30. Liudibrium. The artifice, sc. to rescue Flavianus. — Tribu- 
nal. Cf. note, 1, 36: suggestu ; also Smith's Diet., under Castra. 

35. Signa .... deos. By hendiadys for: the gods of war on the 
standards. 

36. Donee with subj. Cf. note, 1, 13 : amoliretur. Donee never 
occurs in Caesar, and but once in Cicero. Z. 350. — Fatisceret, lit. fell 
to pieces, like the earth yawning and falling asunder. The word is 
poetical. Cf. Boetticher. 

I. Obviis .... exemptus est. Not immediately, but some time J29 
after, as he journeyed slowly towards Vespasian. 

Ch. XI. — 5. Exarserant. The ind. after quod gives the author's 
reason. — 6. Vulgatis epistolis is the cause of exarserant. 
lO. Pannonicorum ultionem, sc. on Flavianus, 10. 

II. Velut absolverentur. Cf. note, 2,8: velut. — Aliorum se- 
ditione, sc. of the Maesians. 

IT. Consulariuin. Flavianus and Aponius. 

19. Collegis, sc. the other legati legionum, Vedius, Aponianus, 
Messala, etc. 

Ch. XII. — 22. Xe limits quietae only, and does not extend to tur- 
babant.—24. Lucilius Bassus. Cf. 2, 100. 101. 

26. Vespasiano. Dat. for abl. w T ith ab ; a poetical construction. 
Gr. 225, II. ; Z. 419.— 28. Principia. Cf. note, 1, 48. 

33. Classis .... destinat. The antith. particle (but) is under- 
stood before classis. Lucilius was willing to place himself at their 
head, when the revolt had been consummated without his help. But 
the fleet preferred a man of more decision and zeal in the cause of 
Vespasian. Cf. the account of Cornelius Fuscus, 2, 86. I can see 
no necessity for supposing with Wr. that there is a lacuna between 
praebet and classis. 

35. Atriam. A town on the river Tartarus near the Po, once so 
important as to give name to the Adriatic sea. Touching the orthog- 
raphy, cf. Anthon's Class. Diet, sub voce ; Plin. 3, 1G, 20. 

38. Is ... . habebatur. Sarcastic. Cf. note, G. 25. 

Ch. XIII. — 3. Secretuin .... affectaus. Eagerly courting a JQQ 
military council, i. e. striving to draw the proper persons into it. On 
this disputed passage, see Or. ad loc. and Freund sub voce, No. 4. 
Al. secreta, secretiora, etc. 



360 NOTES. 

Page 

ioa 9. Imagines dereptae. Cf. note, 1, 41 ; also Xiph. 65, 10. 

11, Praescriptum .... projectas. Observe the asyndeton and 
its effect. Cf. note, 1, 36: praeire sacramentum, etc. 

18. Ut . . . . darentur. Some connect this clause back to ut . . . 
traderent, as depending on hue cecidisse, and enclose quas enim .... 
straverintque in a parenthesis. Wr., Bek., Dod. and Or. connect it 
closely with the preceding clause, on which it depends thus: whom 
however they had routed and overwhelmed in those very fields , only 
that (i. e. with no better reward than that) thousands of armed men 
should be given, etc. ; said in bitter irony. This is certainly the most 
natural construction, and I see no reason for seeking any other. Rup. 
makes here a succession of broken and disconnected exclamations, 
which is preferable to the parenthesis of the common editions. — Exsuli 
Antonio. Cf. 2, 86, note. — 19. Nimirum denotes irony. 

20. Accessioncm* Quite an accession .' Cf. Liv. 7, 30 ; 30, 
12 : access io fortunae. 

21. Militibus .... auferrc. Al. principi auferri militem. But 
the reading of the text is found in all the MSB. and earliest editions, 
and makes even a better sense, or at least a more Tacitus-like anti- 
thesis, than the emendation. 

23. Q,uid .... adversa. What shall we say to those who here- 
after question us touching' our successes or reverses, sc. in this war, 
in which we shall have met with neither — with nothing worthy of 
mention. Prospera aut adversa breviter dictum pro rationem pros- 
perorum aut adversorum. Dod. Cf. Essay, p. 16. 

Cn. XIV. — 26. Initio .... orto. Cf. note, 2, 79 : initium coep- 
turn. — Quinta legione. This legion had been particularly forward in 
rebelling against Galba, 1, 55. Xiph. (65, 10) gives the same account 
of this scene of commotion, and adds, that it was increased by an ac- 
companying eclipse of the moon. 

30. Trucidant, sc. out of resentment for the revolt of the fleet, 
in which however they had no concern. 

3 2. Ut . . . . jungerentur. Before the junction was effected^ 
Antony had defeated first the cavalry (16. 17, infra), then the two le- 
gions stationed at Cremona (18) ; and these troops came up only to 
share in the disaster. — 3 3. Q,uas .... praemiserat. Cf. 2, 100. 
131 Ch. XV.— 3. Britannia acciverat. Cf. 2, 97. 

4. Immensam .... luem = immensam multitudinem, quae mul- 
tam luem (perniciem) excitare poterat. Wr. 

^>. Secundis .... castris. Two days' 1 march, castris bis positis. 
Cf. craBnovs tivo, Tjoct?, etc. Xen. Anab. passim. 

11. Octavum, sc. lapidem, or milliarium. — A Bedriaco. From, 
i. e. beyond Bedriacum ; of course within twelve miles of Cremona. 
Cf. note, 2, 23. — Quo .... popular entur, sc. without danger from the 
enemy. 



book: in. 361 

Pafa 

1 2. Exploratores .... curabant. The scouts, as usual, per- 1 di 

formed their duty (i. e. explored the country) more widely. 

Ch. XVI. — 14. Q,uinta .... Iiora, i. e. near eleven o'clock, a. m. 
Cf. Man. P. 3, 228. 1 ; also Lev. App. I. — Adventure .... praegredi 
.... audiri. Observe the asyndeton. 

22. Diduciis .... turmis. Drawing off his companies of horse 
to the flanks. Antonius had on hand only cavalry to the number of 
4000. The legions were engaged in fortifying their camp, and the 
cohorts were sent out to forage and plunder the country. Cf. 15. 

25 • Q,ua .... proximum limits occurreret : the signal was giv- 
en (to the cohorts) over the country, that, leaving their booty, they 
should betake themselves by the nearest route {qua via) to the battle. 

28. Turoae suorum, sc. the main body under the immediate 
command of Antonius. 

Ch. XVII. — 3 3. Ardoris is gen. after eo, which is the old dative. 
Cf. A. 28 : eo . . . . inopiae. — Vexillarium is here a standard-bearer, 
as the context shows. 

3T. Rivi. Now Dermona, about midway between Cremona and 
Bedriacum. Rup. — Incerto alveo. The fordable places being un- 
known. Murphy. Rup. compares it with cerium alveo, G. 32, where 
see note. 

2. Effusos. Cf. note, 2, 23 : effudit. 132 

Ch. XVIII. — 8. Laeto .... proelio denotes the cause of their 
march. It was the cavalry only that took part in the battle just de- 
scribed, 16. 17. 

9. Provecta, sc. from Cremona, where they were stationed. Cf. 14. 

1 2. Forte victi, i. e. virtually conquered by the previous misfor- 
tune of their comrades, not really defeated in a fair trial of strength. — 
Haud .... desideraverant. They had not felt the want of their 
general (Ceecina) so much in their former prosperity as now in ad- 
versity, etc. 

16. Q,uos .... aequabant. Whom, though brought into the 
field by rapid marches, military experience was rendering equal to 
the legionary soldiers. — Miliiiae. Nom. pi. to denote the number and 
variety of their services. Cf. Suet. Claud. 25, et al. 

19. Minorem. Al. tanto minor em. But tanto is not in the MSS. 
and is not necessary in T., who is fond of omitting one of two antithetic 
particles. 

Ch. XIX. — 24. Cumulos super. Cf. note, 2, 78: Judaeam inter. 
Observe also the praegnantia, cumulos = cumulos corporum. Cf. Es- 
say, p. 16. — 2T. In medio = palam. Cf. in medium, G. 46, note. 

28. Ilia. The following considerations, with the additional idea 
however of their being kept in the background, while haec denotes the 
arguments which were put forward to public view ; thus according 
with the general principle, that hie refers to what is near, and Me to 

31 



362 NOTES. 

Page 

iq<r> what is remote. Gr. 207, R. 23. Haec is far more frequently used 
to denote the following than ilia. Z. 700. 

3G. Ctuod si. If then, if now. Cf. note, 1, 1. — Jam = then, 
in that case. 

31. Clementiam et gloriam = clementiae gloriam by hendia- 
dys. So Roth. But the pi., inania, shows that the ideas are distinct. 
Better thus with Dod. : an opportunity to show mercy, and the honor 
of showing it, both alike empty of solid advantage. 
133 Ch - xx -— 3 « Duces .... prodesse, e. g. Q. Fabius Cunctator, M. 
Minucius Rufus, etc. Rup. 

4. Pro . . . portione. Cf. note, A. 45. 

5. Armis ac manu .... ratione et consilio. Cf. notes, 1, 84; 
2, 4G. 76, etc., on pairs of kindred words. 

6. Keque .... occurrant. For there can be no question as to 
the obstacles that await our progress. So Pliny uses occurrit of Mt. 
Taurus, as meeting and obstructing the course of the Euphrates. 

8. Nisi explorato. Without reconnoitering. Explorato is an 
impers. part. So Livy : ante explorato, an exploration having been 
previously made. Cf. Gr. 257, R. 9 ; Z. G47. 

10. Q,uis . . . foret. All this depends on adempto . . . prospectu. 

11. Tormentis et telis. By engines and ?nissiles, i. e. from a 
distance. — Opcribus et vine is. With breastworks (mounds, turrets, 
etc.) and mantelets (so called from resemblance to a vine arbor), i. e. 
by regular approaches and a nearer assault. 

13. Secures dolabrasque. Hatchets and pickaxes. The do- 
labra was half axe or adze (Man. P. 3, 269, 2), for cutting, and half 
pick for digging. So it is pictured on the column of Trajan. Smith's 
Diet, (sub voce) makes it a kind of chisel, which was inserted between 
the stones to loosen the clay and thus destroy the wall. 

16. Aggerem, pluteis, cratibus. For these and the other terms 
relating to a siege in this section, cf. Man. P. 3, 299 ; and Smith's 
Diet, sub voce. 

1 8. Q,uin • • • • ferimus. Why not rather, etc. Cf. note, 3, 2 : 
quin. 

Ch. XXI. — 23. Prope seditionem. Prope used as a prep, with 
ace. Cf. Z. 411, also 267 and 323. 

26. Q,ui • • • • egerat. Ad rem, cf. 9 and 14: ut . . . .jungeren- 
tur, note. Ad verbum, cf. note, A. 18 : in finibus agentem. 

2T. Millia. Our word mile. — Comperta .... clade gives the 
reason for accingi, not, as Murphy strangely makes it, for emensum. 

28. Accingi .... affbre. Were arming themselves, and would 
soon be on the spot. 

29. Tertiam decimam. AI. tertiam. So below for tertiam, some 
read tertiam decimam. The text accords with the order of Antony's 
address to the legions (24, infra), supposing Antony to have begun at 



book in. 363 

Page 

the centre, as usual, and proceeded first through the left wing and 199 
then through the right. So Wr. and Rup. 

30. Ipso .... aggere. Cf. note, 2, 24- 

3 2. Agresti fossa. Cf. note, ibid. 

33. Apertum limitem. Brotier, Or., and many others understand 
this of the cleared border of the via Postumia (cleared in opposition to 
the densis arbustis, a little further back) ; Rup. and Wr. of an open 
cross-road through the country. 

34. Aquilarum signorumque = legionum auxiliariumque. Rup. 
Cf. 1, 44: signa cohortium, aquila legionis. 

35. Praetorianum vexillum. The praetorians dismissed by Vi- 
tellius (2, 67. 93), but invited to resume the service under Vespasian 
(2, 84 : 4, 46). This is the first mention we have of them as actually 
sub vexillis. — 3T. Sido . . . Italicus. Cf. 5, supra, note. 

Ch. XXII. — 3. Ratio fuit. It would have been reasonable 0^134 
expedient. 

4. Tertia .... hora. About nine o'clock at night. Cf. note, 16: 
quinta .... hora. 

7. Dextro .... cornu. Were on the right of their troops; suo- 
rum, on their side, in antith. to the Flavian army just described. We 
cannot suppose that this one legion formed the right wing alone. Tac. 
stated all that he found on the subject. Wr. 

1 1. Laevum cornu. Al. cornum, in some of the best MSS. and 
editions. And grammarians are now abandoning the doctrine, that 
neuters in u are indeclinable. Cf. Z.80, and Freund's pref., App. III. 

13. Yariuni refers to the form and aspect of the battle ; anceps 
to its results from stage to stage. 

16. Pugnae signum. The tessera. Cf. note, 1, 25. The watch- 
word became known to both armies, and thus increased the confusion. 

21. Primipili centurio. Cf. note, 1, 31: primipilaribus. 

Ch. XXIII. — 26. Vacuo atque aperto. From a place open and 
clear, sc. of arbustis. 

21. Magnitudine eximia. Abl. of quality. Gr. 211, R. 6. The 
abl. (not the gen.) is always used to denote an accidental quality. Cf. 
Z. 471, N. The gen. expresses only the inherent. 

28. Balista. See this warlike engine described by Vegetius, 4, 
22 ; also Man. P. 3, 299 ; and Smith's Diet., under Tormentum. 

30. Arreptis .... ignorati. Disguised by shields taken from 
the slain, sc. of the Vitellians. 

33. Adulta nocte. At midnight. Adulta was used by the Ro- 
mans to designate the second of the three parts, into which they di- 
vided the night and also the several seasons. Cf. Servius at Virg. 
Georg. 1,43. 

34. Falleret refers to the optical illusion, which follows. 

35. Aequior. More favorable ; a tergo, being behind their backs. 



364 wot 

Page 

lO^J — Hinc majores, etc. The sense of this concise passage is very well 
expressed by Murphy thus : hence the shadows of men and horses 
projected forward to such a length, that the Vitellians, deceived by 
appearances, aimed at a wrong mark. Their darts by consequence 
fell short of their aim. The moonbeams, in the mean time, played 
on the front of their lines and gave their bodies in full view to the 
adverse army, who fought behind their shadows as if concealed, in 
obscurity. 

J35 Ch. XXIV.— 3. Cur. Interrogative particle = cui rei? Z. 276, 
2. — Rursus, sc. after having been already defeated in that very field 
of Bedriacum, as he goes on to say. 

8. Tolerent. Al. tolerarent, a mere conjecture of Ernesti. If 
you cannot hear, as it now appears you caunot ; it is not a mere sup- 
position or conception as tolerarent would denote, but a fact. So Wr., 
Rup. aud Bek. 

K). Sub Parities, a. u. c. 710. Cf. Dio. 49, 22-33. 

11. Sub .... Armenios. Cf. Ann. 15, 26 ; also note, 6, supra. — 
Nupcr Sarmaias. 1, 79. 

12. Infensus. So all the MSS. The common editions have in- 
fensius. But infensus of itself in the connection denotes peculiar 
violence in the manner of addressing these troops, bearing down upon 
them and striking against them, as it were (in-fendo). So Bach and 
Wr. 

13. Pagani. Peasants, not soldiers, for if defeated here, who 
will employ such troops. Pagan us, from pagus, a term of reproach, 
somewhat like villain from villa. 

14. Illic. There, among the praetorians of Vitellius, where you 
once belonged. Cf. note, 21 : prattorianum vcxillum. There are 
your standards and arms, and you may regain them or die, as you 
please — there is no other alternative ; for you have already exhaust- 
ed ignominy in all its forms, and if conquered now, it is certain death. 
Such is the meaning of this singularly sententious and energetic address. 

16. In Syria, where the third legion had served under Corbulo, 
as intimated above, before they were transferred to Mcesia. 

Ch. XXV. — 18. Vagus. Flying, accidental, antith. to consilio 
.... subditus. 

21. Ut .... contralieret, etc. The subj. here assigns a reason 
for rariorc. Gr. 264, 8 ; Z. 564. 

22. Pulsos. So all the MSS. Al. impulsos and repulsos. But 
cf. note, 1, 2: miss a ; and Essay, p. 11. 

25. Per limitem viae. Cf. note, chap. 21, supra. 

26. Eo is correl. to quia. For this reason, viz. because. 

2T. Vipstano Messalla. A cotemporary historian and eye-witness. 
Cf. note, 9, supra. 

33. Placatos .... manes. Al. piatos. But placatos, with the 



book in. 365 

Page 

best MS. authority, gives also the most appropriate sense ; for the ]Qg 
manes of the dead were appeased by prayers, but expiated by sacri- 
fices. Ernesti. For the past part, here, cf. note, 2, 99 : meditato. 

This little incident, like some of Homer's episodes, is exceedingly 
touching, and conveys a more affecting sense of the evils of civil war, 
than even the author's matchless description of the blood and carnage 
of the battle-field. The concluding clause (factum esse . . . . faciunt- 
que) is cited by Monboddo (On Lang. 2, 4, 12) as an example of 
affected smartness in the turn of expression ; but it brings out in a 
very striking light a singular trait in depraved human nature: they 
talk of the wicked deed that has just been done, and still go on to 
do it. 

Ch. XXVI. — 11. Munire castra. Followed by a mark of inter- jgg 
rogation in the common editions, at the suggestion of Ernesti. But 
this is unnecessary. The sentence begins just like the one above: in- 
cipere, etc. The only difference between the two is, that here id 
quoque is thrown in by apposition with munire to indicate deliberation. 
Wr. makes munire depend on si juberent implied in quid juberent 
above. Quid juberent is the subj. of the indirect question. 

15. Ex temeritate. Al. et ex, etc. But cf. note, 1, 3 : esse ul- 
tionem. — Caedes .... sanguis. Synonyma hoc loco poetarum more 
junguntur. Rup. 

Ch. XXVII.— 19. laoraoaiitur. Cf. note, 2, 22: librato. 

%%• Beariacensi viae. The way from Cremona to Bedriacum. 
So Brixianam port am = the gate of Cremona opening towards Brixia, 
now Brescia, south of the Po. 

24:. Impetus. Their own ardor (cf. note, 1, 57) ; hence our 
word impetuosity. 

25. Ligones. Grub-hoes. Cf. Smith's Diet, sub voce. 

26. Dolabras. Cf. note, 20, supra. Observe the asyndeton. — 
Falces scalasnue. Hooks and ladders. The latter for scaling the 
walls, and the former for tearing down the upper breastwork. Cf. Man. 
P. 3, 289, and Smith's Diet, sub voce. See also the same under tes- 
tudo. 

29. Disjectam fluitantemque. Both these words denote a sep- 
aration of the shields that formed the testudo ; but the former a lateral 
severance, the latter an opening produced by unequal elevation. 

31. Malta cum strafe. Cf. note, 2, 37: magna ex parte. This 
clause is placed in some MSS. at the beginning of the next section. 

Ch. XXVIII. — 3 2. Incesserat . . . ui . . . monstrasseut. There 
is an ellipsis before ni, which maybe supplied thus: hesitation had 
begun to prevail (and would have prevailed still further), had not, etc. 
But ni is more readily translated in such passages but : The soldiers 
began to hesitate, but, etc. Cf. note, A. 4 : hausisse, ni. This usage 
abounds in T., but is rarely found in Cic. Cf. Z. 519, b ; Essay, p. 15. 

31* 



366 NOTES. 

Page 

136 ^ w *^ ^ e seen that monstrassent here implies offering the town to the 
cupidity of the soldiers. 

34:. Hormine .... ingenium. Whether this expedient was the 
invention of Hormus (the offspring of his wit, spoken ironically), etc. 
Al. ad ingenium. But what is gained by this departure from all the 
MSS. I cannot perceive. — Hormi. Cf. note, 12, supra. — Messalla. Cf. 
notes, 9 and 25, supra. 

35. Plinius. Known as the elder Pliny, who, besides his Natu- 
ral History, wrote a history of the German wars (cf. G. and A. p. 79), 
and also of his own times (cf. Piin. Ep. 3, 5), both of which are lost. — 
Haud facile. This is one of the combinations in which haud appears 
with special frequency. 

36. Nisi quod. Cf. note, A. 6 ; also Z. 627. Except that (but) 
neither Antonius nor Hormus degenerated from his former life and 
character in this act, criminal and flagitious as it was, i. e. it was no 
worse than they had always been in the habit of doing. 

3 7. Degenerare non solum a bono, sed et a vitiis Latini dicunt, 
ut Cic. Verr. 3, 68. Bipontine. Cf. note, G. 42 : degenerant. 

137 ** Iteratam testudinem. Upon the renewed testudo. The 
testudo had been completely broken up. Cf. 27 : soluta compage 
scut or um. 

3. Integri mortium. This sentence gives the finishing 

stroke to a frightful picture of blood and carnage, and is marked by a 
truly Homeric brevity and energy. In the next section, after the 
manner of Homer, the author enters more into detail. Omni imagine 
mortium resembles very nearly Thucyd. 3, 81, and Virg. Aen. 2, 369. 
Orelli. 

Ch. XXIX.— 9. Testudine for a testudine. Cf. Essay, p. 11.— 
Laberentur. Glanced from it, without effect. 

11. Q,uos inciderat, i. e. in quos ceciderat. Wr. But Zumpt 
(386) says quos is not governed by in, but is a real ace. of the object, 
incidere by composition having acquired a trans, meaning. No other 
classic writer uses it with the ace. Cf. Boetticher, p. 15. 

1 2. Simul juncta turris. At the same time, an adjoining 
tower. — 13. Tertianus, sc. miles = terliani. 

IT. Conclamavit. Properly, cried out together, said of a num- 
ber. Here of one : shouted aloud, as with the voice of a multitude. 
Cf. Virg. Aen. 9, 375: conclamat .... Volscens. 

19. Completur caede. Josephus says (B. J. 4, 11), that above 
30,000 of the Vitellians were put to the sword in this series of engage- 
ments, while there fell of Vespasian's army about 4,500. Cf. also 
Xiph. (65, 15), who makes the number of the slain in all 50,000. 

Ch. XXX.— 20. Ac. Al. at. But ac is in all the best MSS. and 
need not be changed. — Nova laborum fades. The language of Virg. 
Aen. 6, 103-4. 



BOOK III. 367 

Pagre 

23. Stato . . . mercatu. By reason of a fair held annually at-iorr 
that season. 

25. Rapi. To be instantly brought. Cf. 1, 27: rapiunt, note. 

2T. .Si = our to see, if. So the Greeks use si, especially Ho- 
mer. Cf. Kuhner's Gram. 344, R. 9 ; Matthias, 526 ; and note, 1, 31, 
supra. 

29. Moeniurn. Not exactly synonymous with muris, Cf. note, 
2, 22. — Egressa . . . altitudinem. Exceeding the height, etc. Egre- 
di acquires a transitive force by a modification of its original significa- 
tion, and hence is followed by the ace. Cf. Z. 387. So A. 33 : egressi 
terminos. 

30. Trabibus tegulisque. Tectorum ipsorum materie. Rup. 
Ch. XXXI. — 33. Ut quis .... anteibat. All the men of the 

first rank. Cf. note, 1, 29: ut quisque . . . . fuerat. Al. quisque, 
ex interpretamento. Rup. 

36. Reverteretur. According to Wr. the re is antith. to non : 
should not fall upon the poor common people, but fall back from them 
upon, etc. 

2, Xam . . . vinctus. For he was still in bonds. Cf. 14, supra. JQQ 

5. Extremum malorum. This last of evils consisted in the re- 
duction of so many brave men to the necessity of imploring the aid 
of a traitor. Hence the impropriety of a comma after viri, as in the 
common editions. 

6. Velamenta et infulas. Cf. note, 1, 63. — Pro muris. C£ 
note, 1, 27 : pro aede. 

1 0. Ut praeberi, etc. Constructione variata inter infin. histor. et 
tempus finitum. Orelli. 

15., Adeo .... sunt is to be connected with what follows: nay 
more, so odious are crimes, they even charged him with perfidy, 
though that was a crime which had conduced greatly to their interest. 

Ch. XXXII. — 22. In neutrum. He said nothing either way, 
favorable or unfavorable. " To make the last member of the sentence 
as short and abrupt as possible, he has made it obscure." Monboddo 
on Lang. 2, 4, 12. 

25. Mox illuserant. Cf. 2, 67. 

29. Feminae .... progressae. The extreme zeal for the cause 
of Vitellius thus manifested, displeased the opposite party. 

34. Excepta .... incalescerent. The voice (of Antonius) was 
heard, while he complained that the baths were not sufficiently warm, 
adding, that they would soon become warm enough. 

35. Vernile dictum. This wanton speech, lit. slave-like, wor- 
thy of a slave. Some, however, interpret it as the remark of a slave 
attending the bath, in response to Antonius' complaint, which remark 
was considered as showing that his master, Antony, was privy to the 
conflagration- 



868 NOTEB. 

Pa^e 

Cir. XXX III. — 3 8. Calomim corruptior. Cf. note, 2, 87. 

J39 5# UbI. TV7/f/?erer. Followed by the subj. plup. denoting a re- 
peated occurrence. Cf. Gr. 264, 12 ; Z. 569. — Quis . . . conspicuus, 
sc. puer, as the gender and the antithesis oivirg* sufficiently indicate 
without inserting the word. So Ernesti. Gronovius would read out 
puer instead of aut quis. AVhat a state of morals is here shadowed 
forth ! 

9. Truncabantur pro obtruncabantur. Rup. and Dod. Cf. Es- 
say, pp. 10. 11. 

11, Faces in manibus. Ace. after habentes understood, as the 
Greeks omit the part, of ?*w. Matthiae, p. 588, Ed. 1. Rup. So we 
say in English, '• torch in hand.'' 

13. Utque exercitu, etc. Sentential utque evenit, ubi exercitus 
est varius, etc. Abl. abs. Wr. 

14. Iiiicresscnt. For the subj., cf. Gr. 2G4, 8 ; Z. 5G4. 

16. Suflecit, sc. incendio, ad alimenta igni praebenda. Render, 
continued Ut hum. 

1*. Meiltis was the goddess that was worshipped in all places 
that sent forth noxious exhalations. Hence we read in Virgil: Sa- 
cramque exlialat opaca Mefitim. Aen. 7, 64. Murphy. 

This portion of the history furnishes a very good illustration of our 
author's characteristic power of description. The rapid succession of 
bloody battles and sieges, in which A n ton i us and his followers fought 
like tigers, nay like demons, through two days and the intervening 
night, defeated three separate armies in three successive encounters 
without intermission, and carried two distinct and strongly fortified 
lines of defence — walls, towers and bulwarks — around Cremona, is 
sketched with a rapidity and force fully adequate to the subject. The 
outward movements and the inward motives of the men are set before 
the eye of the reader with equal distinctness. And finally the burning 
and sacking of the city presents a picture of unrestrained passions, of 
unbounded crimes, of dreadful calamities and sufferings, of utter deso- 
lation and ruin, to which history and even the drama with all its wild 
license of imagiued horrors can furnish few parallels. The student, 
who has failed to perceive the historian's power, has read the passage 
to little purpose, and will do well to read it again. In default of all 
other means of appreciating it, he will find the passage well represent- 
ed in Murphy's translation, though not with all the conciseness, force 
and fire of the original. Cf. Life of T. pp. 9-10 ; and Preliminary 
Remarks, p. 238. 

Ch. XXXIV. — 20. Condita erat. It was established, sc. as a 
colony. The town existed before. Brotier. — Tiberio . . . consulibus, 
i. e. a. u. c. 536. Cf. Liv. 21, 6. 

23. Rueret. Al. iiruerel. Cf. Essay, pp. 10. 11. As to this 
design of the colony, cf. Liv. 21, 25 ; Polyb. 3, 40. 



book in. 369 

24. Opportuuitate flumiuum. Padi, Adduae, Ollii, aliorumque -i qq 
plurium, sed minorum. Rup. See Cremona on the map. — Annexu 
connubiisque. Connection by marriage. Hendiadys. Wr. and Or. 

It is quite as well, however, to take annexu in the wider sense of in- 
tercourse. 

25. Gentium. With foreign nations. Gentium antith. to urbs, 
as Hor. Od. 1, 2, 2: terruit urbem, terruit gentes. Wr. 

3 2. Munificentia municipum. By the liberality of the inhabi- 
tants, sc. of Cremoua. Al. magnificentia. 

Oh. XXXV. — 34:. Sepultae. Buried, sc. in ashes, incendio dele- 
tae. Ruperti. 

3. Trevir .... Aeduus. A Trevir (native of Treves) . . . an]_4:0 
JEduan. These were Gallic people. 

4. Ostentui. For display, as trophies of victory. 

Ch. XXXVI. — T. At Vitellius. The historian now returns to 2, 
101. Or. At often serves as a transition particle. 

8. Curis .... obtendebat. Concealed his anxiety under the 
veil of pleasure, lit. stretched luxury over against his anxieties. Lev- 
erett sub voce gives a little different sense. 

13. Xemore Aricino. A grove famous for the nightly meetings 
of Numa and the nymph Egeria. Cf. Liv. 1, 19. 21. 

16. Mixtus .... dolor = nuntius et tristis et laetus. Rup. 

19. Publium Sabinum. Cf. 2, 92. 

21. Alfeno Varo. 2, 29. 43. In 2, 43, it is Varus Alfenus. 

Cn. XXXVII. — 22. In magnificentiam. To set forth his great- 
ness, or his grand prospects. 

24. Initium .... factum. The motion was made for, etc. 

25. Composita indignatione. Affected, hypocritical seems to 
be the main idea of composita here, though not exclusively of the 
other idea, viz. studied. — Consul, dux, etc., sc. Csecina. 

28. Suum. dolorem, sc. for the private and public injuries they 
had received from Caecina. 

3 2. Is ... . supererat. For so much (one day) remained for 
Carina's substitute, sc. to fill out his time. 

33. Eblandiretur. Obtained by flattery, lit. flattered it out of 
Vitellius. The subj. is required after the indefinite nee defuit. Cf. 
Gr. 264, 7 ; Z. 561. 

35. Nunquam .... suflectum. Never before had another been 
put in the place of a magistrate, till the office was first declared va- 
cant, and a law enacted to that end. 

36. ?fam consul, etc. See the fine vein of humor in which Cic. 
indulges on this subject, Ep. ad Div. 7, 30. In that consulship, he 
says, no man had time to dine, and no kind of mischief happened. The 
consul was a man of so much vigilance, that he did not allow himself 
a wink of sleep ! 



3T0 NOTES. 

Pagre 

|^i Ch. XXXVIII. — 1. Junii Blaesi. Cf. 2, 59, where see note on 
ingratus. 

2. Accepimus. Pro accepi, i. e. audivi ab aliis relata. Rup. Cf. 
note, G. 27, ad vocem. 

3, Servilianis hortis. Abl. of place ivhere, without a prepos. 
characteristic of poets and later prose writers. Cf. note, 2, 16 : balin- 
eis. These gardens were occupied by Nero and the succeeding em- 
perors. Ann. 15, 55 ; Suet. Nero, 47. It is not agreed from whom 
they derived their name (perhaps M. Servilius, Ann. 6, 31 ; 14, 19), 
or what was their exact location in the city. — Turrim. A tower, i. e. 
a lofty and splendid edifice reared in a garden, or a part of a palace 
raised several stories above the rest of the building for the sake of the 
prospect, like the tower of Maecenas (Suet. Ner. 38), and the tower 
of Hannibal (Liv. 33, 48 ; Plin. N. H. 2, 71). Cf. Rup. ad loc. and 
Beck. Gall. Sc. 7, N. 2. 

8, Q,uod .... agerct. Notice the difference between the subj. 
here and the ind. in quod .... anteibat below. The latter is stated 
as a fact by the historian, while the former is an allegation. 

9. Asperatum for exasperatum. Cf. note, 2, 48. 

20. Junios . . . . jactantem, etc. Blaesus was descended from 
Octavia the sister of Augustus (hence impcratoria stirpe) and Marc 
Antony the Triumvir. In like manner Nero compelled Torquatus 
Silanus to put an end to his own life for no other reason, than because 
he united to the splendor of the Junian family the honor of being great- 
grandson to Augustus. Ann. 15, 35. 

21. Q,ui .... ostentet. The subj. here assigns a reason why 
Blaesus is to be guarded against. So also quern .... arceat above. 

23, Amicorum .... negligens. Making no distinction between 
friends and enemies {inimicorum, always personal enemies). 

24, Labores. Morbum, ej usque dolores et cruciatus. Rup. 
2T. Si quid .... accidat. Notus ev(prj pianos pro: si moriatur. 

Rup. Cf. Ann. 14,47: si quid fato pateretur. Cic. Or. Cat. 4,2: 
si quid obtigerit. The fato added by T. makes it more specifically a 
fatal accident in the course of nature. See the same euphemism in 
Greek, Horn. II. 5, 567 : w ri nadr, ; Dem. Phil. 1, 11. 

Ch. XXXIX. — 28. Inter .... metumque. Between horror of 
the crime and fear of danger. — Ne . . . .ferret. This clause gives 
the reason for veneno grassari. 

30. Addidit .... fidem. He confirmed the general belief that 
he was accessory to the crime. 

31. Nobili = notabili, which some editions substitute, though 
found in no MS. 

34. Fidei obstinatio. Inflexible fidelity to Vitellius. 

35. Integris . . . rebus. Even when the reign of Vitellius was 
secure, without a rival. — 36. Ambitus. Solicited. 



BOOK III. 371 

Page 

3T. Inturbidus. Only in T. — Adeo non = nedum, still less. 1 A\ 
Cf. note, 1, 9, ad vocem. 

38. Parum .... crederetur. Compare the Greek: vap okiyov 
i£i<pvye tov {jiyj a^iovaOai. 

Ch. XL. — 3. Proditam .... classem. Cf. 12 and 36, supra; J^2 
also 2, 100-1. 

7. Vitata Ravenna. On account of the defection of the fleet. — 
Hostiliam Cremonamve, sc. to take command of the troops at those 
places left without a leader by the treachery of Cgecina. Cf. 9. 14. 
21, etc. supra. — 12. D«m media, etc. Mark the sentiment. 

Ch. XLI. — 15. Neque .... aptus, etc., i. e. too large to escape 
notice and too small to break through by force. 

19. Ruentis . . . libido. Qui diu frui non sperat, avidius fruitur. 
Ryckius. See the same principle, 1, 7: tanquam apud senem, festi- 
nantes. Dod. makes pecunia = pecuniae cupido, and novissima = 
quod vitium ultimum exuitur. Cf. Essay, pp. 16. 17. 

2\. Avidos periculorum. Eager for danger, i. e. enterprising 
and restless. Cf. 26 : periculi quam morae patientior. 

25. Dedecoris securos. Reckless (se-cura) of dishonor. — Eo 
. . . comitantibus. Fearing this' (i. e. the perfidy of his soldiers), and 
having but few among his immediate attendants whose fidelity was 
not shaken by misfortune. Two reasons for the course he pursued. 

26* Ariminum. A town of Umbria, on the Gulf of Venice. 

31. Exercitus, sc. in Gallia, octo legiones. Rup. 

Ch. XLII. — 34. Cornelius Fuscus. He was now commander of 
the fleet. Cf. 12. See also 4, note. 

36. Adria. The Adriatic. Cf. note, 12, supra. 

38. Segnitia maris. By a calm at sea. Al. saevitia. But that 
is involved in adversante vento. Aut does not leave it doubtful which 
(that would require an), but denotes sometimes by a calm, sometimes 
by a storm. Depellitur is applicable to segnitia only by zeugma. 
Impeditur is rather required. Cf. Wr. and Or. ad loc. 

1 • Portum .... Monoeci. Now Monaco near Genoa. There J43 
was a temple of Hercules Moncecus there. Cf. Strab. 4 ; Plin. Nat. 
Hist. 3. 

6. Infract a* Impaired, the part, not the adj. Cf. note, 2, 100 : 
immutatum. 

T. Namque = Gr. ical ydp> find with reason, for. 

Ch. XLIII. — lO. Exauctorati. Ad verbum, cf. note, 1, 20. 
Ad rem, cf. 2, 67. They are called praetorianos just below. 

11. Forojuliensem. Cf. note, 2, 14. — Claustra maris. Forum 
Julii was as it were the key to that part of the Mediterranean, being 
an important naval station. 

1 2* Gravior auctor. A more influential leader. Cf. note, 3 : 
gravior. 



372 NOTES. 

Pa-e 

143 **• *P S * • * • • municipal!. ^Ifld f/te people from the country 
out of friendship to their townsman, and in the hope of advan- 
tage from his future power under Vespasian. Cf. Or. and Dod. 
ad loc. 

16. Paratu .... ruinore. Cf. a like ant. of paratu and fama, 
A. 25, with the same collocation of words, viz. the noun standing first 
in the first clause, but the adj. or part, in the second clause, as the 
emphasis requires : in reality (the real array) strong, and made still 
stronger by report. 

19. Maturo .... volentibus fuit = Maturus ceterique vole- 
bant. Cf. note, A. 18 : volentibus erat. 

22. Stoechadas. Three islands in a row, hence their name 
(from Gr. ar&txos). Now the Hieres on the coast of Provence. 

23. Insulas affertur. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

24. Oppressere* Overcame him and took him prisoner. Cf. 44: 
capto Valente. 

Ch. XLIV.— 2G. Prima Adjutrlce. This legion fought for 
Otho with great zeal in the battle at Bedriacum (2, 43 1 ), and after his 
defeat was sent into Spain (2, 67). The 6th and 10th were also in 
Spain. Cf. note, 1, 16 : una legionc. 

29. Inditus. A?, inclitus, indictus, insitus, &c. But inditus has 
the best MS. authority, and accords well with the reason which fol- 
lows : conceived, because (occasioned by the fact that) he had, etc. 

30. Clara egerat. Cf. A. 13. 

31. Ceteramm. The other three legions in Britain, sc. except 
the second. 

Ch. XLV.— 34. Venutio. Cf. Ann. 12, 40. 

36. Cartismanduam .... Caractaco. Ann. 12, 32-36. 

38. Instruxisse .... videbatur. Caractacus was taken pris- 
oner some years after the triumph of Claudius (cf. Suet. Claud. 17; 
Ann. 12, 36) ; but by his capture, Cartismandua added new brilliancy 
to it. Cf. Wr. ad loc. 

144 ®* I* e ttta .... praesidia, sc. by Cartismandua. 

9. Exemere tamen. Though the battles were of various issue 
(i. e. not decidedly successful in re-establishing Cartismandua on the 
throne), yet they at least rescued the queen from personal danger. 
There is an ellipsis of a verb and particle ent. to exemere tamen in 
the first clause, so that tamen really stands here, as usual, near the 
beginning of its own member of the sentence. 

Ch. XLVI. — 12. Perfidia sociali. By the treachery of the 
states in alliance. 

14. Etenim .... provectum est. For it was prolonged to a 
later period. The reference is to the war with Civilis the Batavian, 
for which see 4, 2, infra* — Etenim. Compare K dt yap. 

15. Abducto .... exercitu is the cause of sine metu. 



book in. 373 

Page 

20. Ni. But. Cf. notes, chap. 28 ; A. 4. 13 ; Z. 519. \^ 

21. Ac ne. Sub. metuens, connected by ac to gnarus, and ex- 
pressing an additional motive for opposing the Dacians. 

24. Et quod .... transegimus. This fact also was favorable 
(affuit). For transegimus, cf. note, A. 34 : transigite. 

25. Pro consule. Cf. note, 1, 49. 

26. Annuo imperio. Cf. note, A. 22 : annuis copiis. 

Ch. XLVII. — 32. Polemonis. Polemon II. was made king of 
Pontus by Caligula, and after his death the kingdom was changed by 
Nero into a Roman province. Suet. Ner. 18. 

34. Verterat. Intrans. Cf. note, G. 31. 

3T. Trapezuntem. Nov/ Trebizond, an important city and 
seaport in Asia Minor, on the Euxine. — A Graecis . . . conditam. Cf. 
Xen. Anab. 4, 6, 17 : Strab. 12. 

38. Suoitus for subito. Gr. 205, R. 15. 

1. Douati .... Romana. By granting the freedom of the \^.§ 
city, the Romans drew distant colonies into a close alliance. Cf. 
note, 1, 8. 

2. Desidiam .... Graecorum. Notice the Roman contempt 
for the now degenerate Greeks. 

3. Classi. A fleet left by Mucianus unmanned and unprotected 
in the harbor of Trebizond. Or. Al. classis. 

5. Barbari. Non Aniceti milites, sed alii homines barbari, qui 
utebantur, ut fit, turbatis rebus, ut piraticam exercerent. Wr. 

6. Camaras .... conuexam. Ai. quas camaras .... lata alvo 
.... connexa. But the ace. of the last three words is found in all the 
MSS. Alvum is in appos. with camaras. Gr. 230: they call by the 
name of camarce a broad hold with narrow sides, and bound with 
neither brass nor iron. A similar kind of boats is described, G. 44. 
Like the canoes of the American Indians, these camarae were borne 
on the shoulders of the natives. The word camaraz is found in no 
Latin author earlier than T. It occurs in the Greek of Strabo. 

11. Indiscretum . . . est. It is alike safe, and indeed a matter 
of indifference, etc. 

Ch. XLVIII. — IT. Cohibi. A river of Colchis, called Cobus, 
Plin. N. H. 6, 4 ; now Khopi. 

21. Fluxa .... fide. Cf. note, 1, 21 : fluxa. 

26. Urbem quoque. The city (Rome) also, i. e. as well as the 
army. Al. urbemque. But in that case que = quoque in abbreviated 
form. 

2T. Et Africam. Africa also, as well as Egypt. These were 
the two principal granaries of Rome, the former supplying the city 
for eight months, the latter for the remaining four months of the 
year. Cf. notes, 8, supra, and 1/73. 

29. Facturus denotes purpose, like the fut. part, in Greek. As 
32 



374 NOTES. 

-I jKto the object of Vespasian's stay in Egypt, see further Josep. B. J. 4, 
37 ; Suet. Vesp. 7. 
On. XLIX.— 30. Nutatione. Al. mutatione. We have given 
the reading of Wr., Rup., Bach, Dod. and the Medicean MS. Cf. 
PJin. Panegyr. 5 : nutatio reipublicae. 

31. Post Cremonam, sc. deletam. Censured by Lord Monboddo 
as excessively concise and abrupt. But cf. also Flor. 1, 7, 1 ; 3, 1, 1 : 
post Carthagincm, et al. 

32. Ex facili = facilia. Cf. A. 15. = faciliter. So Livy and 
the best Latin authors ad Graecorum consuetudinem, e. g. Thucyd. 
1, 34: U ruv evdios- Cf. Walch ad A. 15. 

35. Yiam .... strucrc. The MSS. read vim, which Wr. de- 
fends, but does not restore. 

3T. Ordincs .... oflerebat, i. e. allowed the soldiers to choose 
their own centurions, instead of appointing them himself, as was usual 
for the commander. 

38. In arbitrio. Under th? sovereign command. 
146 ^* Corrumpendac disciplinac. Dat. of end, or tendency. — In 
vertebat. Converted into n ;//. uns of enriching himself by plunder. 

Q a [^ — (;. i:\pcditum aguiciu The light-armed troops. Cf. 
note, A. 29. 

12. Pompcius Silvanus* Cf. 2, 86. Al. Poppreus. 

15. Ad oniniaquc. Ad is not in MS. Med. Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

19. Fiuium Portunae. Oppidum Umbriae, quod aliis simpl. 
Fanum et colonia Julia Fanestris, nunc Fano dicitur. Rup. 

20. Ctuod .... audierant. The ind. after quod here directs 
attention to the cause, as an historical fact stated by the author ; the 
subj. in quod defuisset above directs the attention more to the reason, 
as it lay in the minds of others. Cf. note, 36 : quod .... ageret. 

23. Clavarium. Lit. nail-money, i. e. originally a small sum 
given to soldiers to provide nails for their shoes. The word occurs 
only in T. So calcearium from calcei. Suet. Vesp 8. Unguenta- 
rium from ungucntum. PI in. Ep. 2, 11. 

25. Accipi. Received as a free gift. Ant. to rapiuntur = ta- 
ken by force. 

Ch. LI. — 28. Fas nefasque. Cf. note, 2, 56. — Irreverentiam. 
Found only in T. Essay, p. 22. 

29. Praemmm .... petierit. As if it were proof of great 
zeal for the party, to have slain a brother on the opposite side. For 
the perf. subj. cf. note, 1, 24: dederit. 

30. Jus liominum. The law of nature, as we call it. Cf. note, 
G. 21 : jus hospitis. So Cic Tusc. Qu. : jus hominum. 

31. Ratio belli. The kind of the war, i. e. civil. — Distulerant. 
Sententia est : distulerunt et dilatus manebat. Ita plup. contrahit 
vim imp. Wr. 



BOOK III. 375 

Page 

32. Meritum agrees with equitem understood. For the subj. in] 4*? 
exsolverentur, cf. Gr. 264, 4 ; Z. 560. 

37. Sisemia. An orator and historian, whose work was continued 
by Sallust. Cf. Man. P. 5. 511, 2 ; Sal. B. Jug. 95. 

Ch. LII. — 6. Commeatibus, i. e. ships laden with provisions. 147 

8. Nimius = nimio potens et rapax. Rup. — Certiora . . . spera- 
bantur, sc. praemia. Spem majorem praemiorum habebant in Mu- 
ciano, majoris virtutis, dignitatis et gratiae apud Vespasianum viro. 
Ernesti. 

9. Ni praesens .... ratus. Thinking, that if he were not 
present at the taking of the city, he should have no share in the 
war and its glory. 

11. Media. Ambiguous expressions. — Scriptitabat. Observe 
the frequentative. — Instandum (sc. esse) depends on scriptitabat. 

1 2. Edisserens (setting forth at length) governs only utilitates. 
— Compositus. Studied, guarded in his language. 

14. Plotium Gripbiim. Cf. 4, 39. 40, infra. 

IT. Volentia. Pleasing. Taken passively. Cf. Lev. Lex. volens. 

Ch. LIII. — 21. Eviluissent. Had been depreciated. Compare 
vilis, 3 j 33, et passim. The subj. after cujus here denotes the cause 
of Antonius' complaints. 

22. Lingua. Al. linguae, without MS. authority. Cf. note, 
1, 35: linguae. For the position of lingua and obsequii in their re- 
spective clauses, cf. note, 43 : paratu . . . rumore. 

30. Bello imputandum, i. e. it was not his fault. 

31. Majore .... stetisse. Cf. notes, A. 16, and chap. 72, 
below. 

34. Asiam coinposuerint. Cf. 2, 79. For the subj. cf. Gr. 
266, 2 ; Z. 603. For the perf. cf. Gr. 258, 1 ; Z. 516. 

35. Moesiae pacem. Cf. 46, supra. It will be seen that all 
along here Antonius draws the contrast between his own achievements 
and those of Mucianus, but without mentioning his rival's name. 

38. Si .... assequantur. If, as is now the fact, etc. Cf. note, 
24: tolerent. 

2. Siniplicius. Cf. note, G. 22 : simplices. 1 JQ 

3. Implacabilius is found only in T. Cf. Boet. and Freund. 
Ch. LIV. — 8. Ingravescebat. He grew worse (weaker, like a 

sick man) under these false reports. So" the word is used, Cic. de Sen. 
11 ; Plin. Ep. 2, 20 ; and so most of the commentators understand it 
here. 

1 1. X-ec .... augendae .... deerant = non omittebant neque 
cessabant augere. Rup. 

23. Ultro. Furthermore. 

25. Cui credas. Cui = talem, ut; hence followed by the subj. 
Cf. Gr. 264 ; Z. 558. 



376 NOTES. 

Tage 

148 ^ 6# Voluntaria morte. In the characteristic spirit of the old 
Roman soldier, ever ready to die for his country or his commander. 

Ch. LV. — 30. Q,uatuordecim .... cohortibus. There were 
sixteen in all. Cf. 2, 93. 

3 2. E .... legio. Not the same with Otho's legio classicorum 
(1, 6. 31, 36. et al.) that was sent into Spain (2, 67), but probably a 
new legion enrolled from the fleets at Ravenna and Misenum. — Tot 
millia. Each cohort numbered a thousand men. Cf. note, 1, 20. 

33. Pollebant. Ind. for the subj. found seldom in Cic. but often 
in T. and late writers, especially after ni and in the plup. Cf. note, 
28 : incesserat . . . ni. 

36. Q,uibus .... destinabat. Carrying still further the policy 
of Otho. Cf. 1, 77, note. 

3T. Latium, Latinitas, and jus Latii were different expressions 
used to denote a standing or state intermediate between citizens and 
foreigners. Cf. Die. of Ant., Latinitas. Arn. His. Rom. 

149 "** A ( l era t» W*t present, eager to receive and applaud. 

5. Mevaniani. A city in Umbria, now Bevagna. 
Ch. LVI. — 1 1. Accessit. Cf. note, ad vocem, 1, 5. 

12. Nee ubi. Al. nee ut. The reading is doubtful. Either 
makes the omen inauspicious. 

13. Sed praecipuum, etc. A description of great power, show- 
ing a master in severe yet truthful satire. Cf. Life of Tacitus, p. 11. 

14. Q,uis ordo, etc. These clauses depend on improvidus con- 
silii : without forethought to consider what should be the order of 
march, etc. 

15. Q,uantus modus = quantopere bellum vel urgendum esset 
vel trah enduiu. Rup. 

21. In aperto. Easy. Cf. note, A. 1. 

25. Arcuere. Prohibuere aditu ad principem. Rup. The MSS. 
have arguere. Cf. note, 1,3: prodigia. 

26. Aspera, sc. essent. Al. aspere, limiting acciperet. 

Ch. LVI I. — 28. Misenensem. Cf. note, 2, 9. Misenum was 
near Puteoli, Cumae, Mount Vesuvius, &c, and not far from Capua, 
as is implied below. 

33. Praetura functus. Cf. note, 2, 63. 

34. Mmturiiis. A town north of Misenum, near the mouth of 
the Liris ; now in ruins. 

150 **• *^ ' * * * cas ^ ra » i- e - when Julianus with his troops had 
united (lit. encamped) with the marines under Apollinaris. 

6. Ipsorum iugenio. The spirit of the people themselves, sc. of 
Tarracina — the people being implied in the place. 

Ch. LVIII. — T. Narniae. A city of Umbria, on the river Nar (a 
branch of the Tiber) , now Narni. 

15. Tribus. The three original tribes (from tres) at Rome were 



BOOK III. 311 

Pag* 

confined to the patricians. But the number was at length increased i ka 
to thirty-five, which, as the right of suffrage was extended, included 
all classes of Roman citizens. Cf. Nieb. and Arn. His. Rom. In the 
age of the Emperors the tribes were chiefly made up of the middling 
classes, and did not include those of senatorial and equestrian rank on 
the one hand, nor the lowest rabble on the other. — Dantes . . . parti- 
tur. He at first summons the tribes in a body, and administers the 
oath to all who gave in their names (i. e. all who consented to serve 
in the army) indiscriminately ; but finding the number too great, he 
afterwards assigns to the consuls the duty of drafting a portion of 
them by a regular levy (delectus). 

IT. Indicit. Assesses. Cf. G. 25 : injungit. 

20. Favoreni. Attachment to Vitellius, or rather zeal for his 
cause, as is implied in the following clause. 

24:. Aspernatus antea. Cf. 1, 62. 

25 • Superstitione nominis. As if there were a talismanic 
power in the mere name. The word superstitio properly denotes a 
sentiment, rite, or usage, that has survived (from super sto) and been 
handed down from an earlier age. 

30. Q,uae .... remisit, e. g. money, slaves, titles, &c. 

Ch. LIX.— 3 2. Ut ita. Though yet. Observe the 

difference between ita and tarn, which = to such a degree. 

35. Erectus. Roused up. — Samnis . . . et Marsi. T. is partic- 
ularly fond of interchanging the singular and the plural, as here. The 
Samnite t the old enemy of Rome in the famous Samnite wars, dwelt 
near the borders of Campania. The Peligni and the Marsi were 
farther north. 

36. Campania praevenisset, sc. in going over to Vespasian. 
Cf. 57, supra. — Ut .... obsequio. As is usually the case in the ser- 
vice of a new ynaster. 

38. Nives eluctautibus. Compare difficultates eluctari, A. 17, 
and elapsum custodias, just below. Cf. Z. as cited, note 29 : quos 
.... inciderat. Eluctautibus is dat. after patuit. 

2. Ctuae .... affuit. Ind. because it is a remark of the his- ] Kl 
torian, and not what was evident to the Flavian army. 

3. Obvium .... habuere. They met. Compare our common 
idiom, they had met. So habco dictum = dixi, etc. Z. 634. — Pe- 
tilium Cerialem. Cf. A. 8, and often in the ensuing history. 

T. Sabino .... Domitiano. The brother and the son of Ves- 
pasian. 

Ch. LX. — 15. Partium, sc. Flavianarum. — Carsulas. Not far 
from Mevania and Narnia ; now in ruins. 

16. Assequerentur. Observe the imp. subj. after the histor. pres. 
Cf. Gr. 258, R. 1 ; Z. 501. 

22. Opperiebantur. Imp. to denote an unaccomplished effort or 

32* 



378 NOTES. 

Page 

1 k-i wish. — Praedae . . . periculorum. Potius omitted. Cf. note, G. 6 : 
consilii quam formidinis. They thought but little danger remained ; 
and they chose to have the booty to themselves. 

24. Si deiiberarent .... si desperassent. Notice the change 
of tense : if they should be allowed still to deliberate — when once 
they had been reduced to despair. 

28. Tarracinam. A city of the Volsci in Latium, famed as a 
border town in the Volscian wars. It was about as far south from 
Rome as Narnia was north, i. e. about sixty miles. Now Terracina 
on the Tuscan Sea. 

Cii. LXI. — 31. Suas centurias turmasque. Their respective 
companies of infantry and cavalry. Cf. note, 1, 51. — Donum .... 
gratiam. Ace. of the end. Gratiam praegnanter for gratiae causam. 
Doderlein. 
152 1- Interamiiam. Cf. note, 2, 64 

2. Varus, sc. Arrius. Cf. 6, supra, et al. 

lO. Induruerat. See the phrase under induresco, Lev. Lex. 

Ch. LXII. — 13. Urbini. Urbinum was a town in the territory 
of the Senones, not far from the Adriatic ; now Urbino, famous as 
the birthplace of Raphael. — In custodia. His capture is related 
above, 43. 

18. Immane, quantum animo. Lit. it is wonderful how much 
in the ardor of their feelings = with wonderful ardor, with very great 
confidence. Cf. Hor. Od. 1,27,6. So mirum, quantum; incredibile, 
quantum, etc. See a different explanation, Essay, p. 17. 

10. Anagniae. A town of ancient Latium ; now Anagni, thirty- 
six miles to the east of Rome. 

20. Absurdus ingenio. By no means despicable for talent. 
So absurdum ingenium, Ann. 13, 45. Sail. Bell. Cat. 25, and ab- 
surde, Ann. 13, 14. Always used with a negative, like non ineptus 
and our not bad. 

21. Ludicro juvenum. The Juvenalia, a licentious festival, 
instituted by Nero. Cf. Ann. 14, 15, where see it described. Cf. 
also Ann. 16, 21. T. avoids the technical name. Cf. Essay, p. 20. 

22. Actitavit. Compare what is said of Vitellius, 2, 71. Observe 
the frequentative. 

24. Fonteium .... interfecit. Cf. 1, 7. 

26. Aliorum .... illustratus. And by that only, not by his 
own virtues. We have here a specimen of Tacitus' manner of sum- 
ming up a character, as he takes leave of it — concise, antithetic, can- 
did ; yet, if need be, piquant and severe. 

Ch. LXIII. — 28. Decore. Al. dedecore. But decor e in the 
oldest and best MSS. And with the Romans, as with us, it was an 
honor to march out (as we say) under arms and colors flying. More- 
over, id quoque non sine decore corresponds with the previous conduct 



book in. 379 

Page 

of the Vitellian soldiery. Cf. 62 : gregarius miles induruerat pro -i ^ 
Vitellio. lD * 

30. Ornatus, sc. omni instrumento militari. Equipped. 

36. Secreta Campaniae. A retreat in Campania, deemed the 
richest and most beautiful part of Italy. Cf. 66 : Sinus Campaniae 
beati; also 1, 2 : fecundissima Campaniae ora. 

3 7. Seque ac liberos. Poetice. So 4, 2 : seque ac cohortes; 
Ann. 1, 61 : visuque ac memoria. Al. se ac liberos. 

38. Permisisset. Notice the plup. = if (when) he should first 
have surrendered up. 

4. Oblivisceretur. Imp. in the apodosis, where we use the JgQ 
plup. Cf. note, 2, 62 : si temperaret. 

Ch. LXIV.— 5. Flavium Sabinum. Cf. 1, 46.—Praefectum 
urbis. Cf. 1, 14, note. 

T. Cohortium urbanarum. Cf. note, 1, 20. — Vigilum. Ibid. 

8. Servitia ipsorum. Their own slaves, sc. of the speakers, 
primorum civitatis. 

12. Si .... praebuisset. When once he had presented him- 
self, etc. So si . . .permisisset, 63. — 14r. Adeo. Cf. note, 1, 9. 

Ch. LXV. — 23. Affectam .... fidem. Impaired credit. Cf. 
note, 1,88: afflicta fide. — Praejuvisse is a word peculiar to T., 
formed after the analogy of Gr. Trpo^orjdeTv : helped beforehand, i. e. 
before Vespasian had completely failed. 

24. Pignori. Cf. Gr. 227, R. 2. Ad rem, cf. Suet. Vesp. 4. 

25. Oflensarum operta = offensae opertae. A form of expres- 
sion abounding in T., peculiar to poets and prose writers later than Cic. 
Cf. Z. 435 ; also note, G. 43 : pauca campestrium. The idiom is 
Greek, as well as poetical. Ibid. — Melior inter pretatio. A more char- 
itable construction. 

29. Aede Apolliuis. Cf. note, 1, 21.—Pepigere. Cf. Suet. 
Vitel. 15. 

30. Verba vocesque. The words of the contract, and the ex- 
pressions used in the whole conversation. So Dod. — Cluvium Ru- 
fum. Cf. note, 1, 8. 

31. Silium Italicum. The poet; consul, a. u. c. 821 ; com- 
mended by Pliny (Ep. 3, 7) for his discreet conduct as the friend of 
Vitellius. 

Ch. LXVI. — 38. Fidem .... victoris. That the fulfilment of 
the pledge (given by Sabinus) would depend on the sovereign will of 
the conqueror. — Tantam .... superbiam. So much conscious supe- 
riority and consequent security. 

2. Victos, sc. themselves. They threaten that they would put Jg^ 
Vitellius to death with their own hands, rather than see him in private 
life ; and so danger to him would arise from their very compassion 
for him. 



380 NOTES. 

rape 

1 KA 5. Beatos .... sinus. Cf. note, 63 : seer eta campaniae. Ad 
verbum, cf. notes, G. 29, A. 30. 

8. Aemnlatore. Al. aemulato (Wr.), aemulatu (Lip., Ober.), 
aemulo (Rhen.). All with the same sense. — Captivum. And there- 
fore less dangerous. 

9. Casibus .... reservatum, sc. when his favor might be of 
service to them, if vanquished. 

13. Nisi forte. There is quite an ellipsis, as there often is, before 
nisi. Cf. note, A. 6. Nor would Vespasian spare Vitellius, unless 
you can suppose that one of inferior rank will rise above jealousy of 
one greatly his superior. 

14. Vitellius collega. Vitellius the father. Cf. 1, 52, near the 
close, and note ad idem. 

16. Accingeretur. Subj. Cf. note, 1, 41 : agerent. 

Ch. LXVIL— 25. Erat parens, etc. Cf. 2, 64 ; also Suet. 

Vitel. 14. 

27. Q,uinto .... Januarias, i. e. Dec. 18, a. u. c. 822. Ad 
verba, cf. note, 1, 12. 

29. Pullo ainictu. The usual dress of mourners at Rome was 
black ; though under the emperors, white, having grown into disre- 
pute, became the mourning apparel of females. Cf. Man. P. 3. 340, 4 ; 
Die of Antiq. under funus, at the end of the Art. ; Beck. Gall. Exc. 
Sc. 12. 

31. Lecticula. Cf. note, 1, 27: sellae. On this whole scene, 
cf. Suet. 15 ; also Juv. 3, 213, who makes the mother of Vitellius also 
one of the melancholy train. 

Ch. LXVIII. — 33. Rerum humanarum. Of the instability of 
human affairs. 

38. Caesarem. Julius Caesar, who was assassinated by Brutus 
and Cassius. — Caium. Caligula, who was put to death by the tribunes 
Chaerea and Sabinus. Cf. Suet. Cal. 56, 57. — Nox . . . absconderant. 
Cf. note, 1, 2 : falsi Neronis ; also Suet. Ner. 48. 
155 ^* Cecidere. Observe the transition from the pi up. {absconde- 
rant) to the perf, designed, as Wr. suggests, to mark the fact that 
the end of Piso and Galba is narrated in this history, whereas that of 
Nero preceded the date with which it begins. 

9. Caecilius Simplex. Cf. 2, 60. 

10. Jus .... civium. Of which the sword is everywhere the 
symbol. Nex is always a violent death ; mors is death as the com- 
mon destiny of men (^pos). 

11. In aede Concordiae. In qua senatus haberi solebat, in 
clivo Capitolino sita. Brotier. 

1 2. Domum fratris. Imminentem foro (cf. 70) vicinamque aedi 
Concordiae. Brotier 



BOOK III. 381 

Page 

13. Obsistentium .... privatis. Opposing his entrance to a]KK 
private house. 

Ch. LXIX. — 19, Respublica .... cessisset. Ad verba, cf. 
Plin. Pan. 6, 3 : confugit in sinum tuum concussa res publica. 

28. Lacum Fuudani. A Fundane lake, now called Lago di 
Fundi, is mentioned by Pliny (N. H. 3, 9). But this lake now in 
question was in the city of Rome, near the Mons Quirinalis. Brotier 
says there were at least a thousand of those lakes at Rome, which 
ought more properly to be called fountains. Murphy. Cf. 1.41: 
Curtii lacum. 

31. Re trepida. In this unexpected and critical emergency. 

32. Arcern capitolii. The relative position of the arx {citadel) 
and the Capitolium proper (i. e. the temple of Jupiter) has given rise 
to much discussion, some maintaining that the Capitolium was within 
the arx, others that they stood on distinct summits or points of the 
Mons Capitolinus. Cf. Die. Antiq. under Capitolium. Cic. aud Liv. 
always say arx et Capitolium. Capitolium seems to be used here by 
T. as it often is by others, for the whole mount. In the next section 
he calls the citadel arx Capitolina. — Mixto milite, etc., i. e. soldiers 
mingled with citizens of senatorial and equestrian rank. Cf. 2, 14 : 
pars classicorum mixtis paganis. 

35. Simulavere. Falsely claimed. 

2. Neglecta, i. e. non obsessa a Vitellianis. Rup. Jgg 

4. Digredi. Al. degredi, a conjecture of Ernesti. But as Wr. 
says, the thing intended is not so much going down from the Capito- 
lium, as going away and escaping from the enemy. 

Ch. LXX. — 1 1. Simulationem .... fuisse. He said it was a 
mere pretence and show, (sc. his appearance) of abdicating the throne. 
Simulationem and imaginem are predicates. Cf. Essay, pp. 14, 15. 

1 2. Cur enim .... petisset. Else why should he have gone, 
etc. Compare rj yap av, etc. in Greek. — E rostris, i. e. from the 
assembly of the people. Cf. 68 : sua condone. 

13. Irritandis .... oculis. Dat. of the end after petisset : 
and so as (or with a view) to attract the eyes of men. Or dat. after 
aptum implied in domum imminentem : a house fitted to attract, etc. 
Cf. Essay, pp. 16, 17.— 19. Togatum. Cf. notes, 1,38; A. 9. 

21. Judicatur. So the Greeks use Kpivw of deciding disputes by 
arms. 

24. Utilia. Useful things, like the Greek, with xp^^ra under- 
stood. The general rules of Latin construction would require utilem. 
Cf. Z. 376, a. But exceptions are not wanting in Cic. and Liv. (Z. 
377), and are not unfrequent in T., e.g. 2, 20 : pax et concordia jac- 
tata sunt. 

Ch. LXXI. — 1. Eriguiit aciem. Cf. note, A. 18 : erexit aciem. \K*J 

2. Capitolinae arcis. Cf. note, 69 : arcern Capitolii. 



382 NOTES. 

1^7 3. Porticus. Cf. notes, 1, 40 : Basilicis, and imminentium, ibid. 
lO. Diversos .... aditus. This implies that there were at 
least three approaches from the forum to the Mons Capitolinus. Cf. 
Die. Antiq., Capitolium. 

11. Lucum asyli. The Asylum opened by Romulus for the in- 
discriminate reception of foreigners, as described by Livy (1, 8) and 
Dion. Hal. (2, 15), was situated between two groves. Only one re- 
mained in the age of T., here called lucum asyli, which was situated 
between the two summits of the Capitoline Hill. Cf. note, 69 : arcem 
Capitolii. — Tarpeia rvpes. The whole Capitoline Hill was originally 
called Moris Tarpeius, from the virgin Tarpeia, who was killed and 
buried there by the Sabines. Liv. 1, 11. But the name Tarpeia was 
afterwards confined to the rock which was the immediate scene of 
her destruction, and whence criminals were thrown headlong into the 
Tiber. Cf. Die. Antiq. as above. 

16. Q,uae crebrior lama. Al. fama est. Pliny (N. H. 34, 7) 
and Joseph us (B. J. 4, 11) charge the conflagration to the Vitellians. 
But they lived in the reign of Vespasian, Tacitus under Trajan, quum 
veritati, non adulationi locus esset. Brotier. 

IT. Nitentes .... depulerint. Al. quo . . . dcpellerent. But 
the reading of the text, though less obvious, gives the same sense, and 
rests on better authority. 

18. Porticus .... acdibus, i. e. to the temple of Jupiter Capi- 
tolinus, which had a triple row of columns in front, and a double row 
on each side (Dionys. 4, 61), and which T. calls aedibvs, perhaps be- 
cause it contained within one enclosure and beneath one roof, three 
aedes, sacred severally to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Brotier. Cf. 
Die. Antiq. as above. — Sustirjerites .... aquilae. The ornaments 
and supports of the pediment (vulgarly called the gable-end). These 
were usually in public edifices wrought into the form of eagles with 
outstretched wings. Cf. Rup. ad loc. 

20. Indireptum. Joseph us (B. J. 4, 11, 4) says that the Vitel- 
lians plundered the temple. 

Ch. LXXII. — 25. Pignus imperii = ut pignus imperii esset. 
Rup. Cf. Gr. 204, R. 1. 

26. Porsena. Al. Porsenna. The penult, is short in Mart. 1,22 ; 
Hor. Epod. 16, 4 ; Sil. Ital. 8, 391, et al. ; but long in Virg. Aen. 8, 
646. The best authorities are at variance touching the orthography 
and the prosody of the word. Cf. Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome. 
— Dedita urbe. T. is charged by many with error here, or at least 
with speaking rhetorically, rather than what was historically true. But 
Niebuhr and Arnold argue with great force from the circumstances 
and results of the war with Porsena, that the common history is falsi- 
fied by Roman pride, and that T. has preserved the only true account, 
and Rome was really surrendered to the Etruscans. 



book in. 383 

Pag-e 

2T. Galli capta. a. u. c. 364. Cf. Liv. 5, 43 ; Ann. 11, 24— i err 

Exscindi depends on accidit, or rather is in appos. with f acinus ; 
though some copies place a pause after accidit. 

28. Arserat .... bello. a. u. c. 671, in the civil war between 
Sylla and Marius. Cf. Flor. 3, 21 ; Cic. in Cat. 3, 4. This confla- 
gration is referred to again below. — Fraude privata. Privati hominis 
et auctoris ignoti. Rup. 

30. Q,uo .... stetit. T. more suo duo momenta in unam enun- 
tiationem contrahit. Plenius scripsisset : quod pretium tantae cladis 
fuit, quo ilia res stetit? i. e. what was the price of so great a calamity, 
how much did it stand us in ? So Wr. and Bach. Cf. note, A. 16 : 
seditio . . . stetit. Others take stetit in the sense of evenit, locum 
habuit — 31. Yoverat Tarquinius, etc. Cf. Liv. 1,38. 

33. Mox Servius Tullius, etc. Quod alibi hand legere memini. 
Rup. — 34. Dein Tarquinius Superbus. Cf. Liv. 1, 53. 55. 56. 

36. Libertati, i. e. temporibus liberae rei publicae. — Horatius . . . 
dedicavit. a. u. c. 247, about three years after the expulsion of Tar- 
quin. Cf. Liv. 2,8; 7, 3. Dionys. 5, 35. 

3T. Ea magnificentia refers rather to the grandeur of the work, 
than to the pomp and ceremony of the dedication, as the next clause 
shows.— 38. Ornarent. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 1 ; Z. 556. 

2. Viginti quinque. All the MSS. have quindecim, or ccccxv., Jgg 
and Wr. and Or. follow them. But Lipsius, Ruperti, and most editors 
think it more probable that an x may have been omitted in the MSS., 
than that T. could have erred or departed from the established chro- 
nology by a period of ten years. 

4. Hoc .... negatum. Pliny (N. H. 7, 44, 137) reports this as 
the language of Sylla himself. 

5. Lutatii nomen, i. e. Lutatius Catulus (consul with 

Aemilius Lepidus, a. u. c. 676, a. c. 78) had the honor of dedicating 
the Capitol, and so of inscribing his name upon it, where it remained 
visible, notwithstanding all the improvements the Capitol had received 
from the Caesars {inter tanta Caesaris opera), till the edifice itself was 
consumed by fire, in the reign of Vitellius. 

Ch. LXXIII. — lO. Ex diverse In the opposite party. Cf. 
note, 5, supra. 

11. Captus animi. Ut alibi captus animo, i. e. ejus usu privatus. 
Rup. — Non lingua .... competere. See the phrase in Lev. Lex., 
under competo. The same words are cited by the grammarian Nonius 
from Sal lust's History, now lost. 

19. Martialis. Cf. 70, above.— Pacensis. Cf. 1, 20. 87; 2, 12. 
The other two (Niger and Scaeva) are not mentioned elsewhere. 

22. Q,uiuctium Atticum. Consul suffectus with Caecilius Sim- 
plex. Cf. 68, supra. — Umbra .... vanitate. Usu insiguium consula- 
rium quae amovenda in tali periculo erant. Ernesti. 



384 NOTES. 

Page 

1 /-JO 24. Jecerat, i. e. secretly scattered abroad, instead of openly 

posting them up according to custom. Wr. 

26. Excepto .... signo. Having caught the ivatchword. Cf. 
note, 22 : pugnae signum. 

28. Audaciam .... liaberent. Cf. Sail. B. Cat. 58 : audacia 
pro muro habetur. 

Ch. LXXIV. — 33. Disjecto = destructo. — Contubernio. Cf. 
note, 1, 43. — Jovi Conservatori = Att Zwrijpi- 

34r. Aram casus .... expressam. Dictio poetica ac Graeca, 
quales T. amat, pro aram warmoream in qua casus sui expressi erant. 
Rup. Gr. 234, II. 

36. Sabinus, etc. Eutropius (7, 12) and Victor (Caes. 8) make 
Sabinus to have perished in the burning of the Capitol ; while Suet. 
(Dom. 10) says he was put to death by Domitian. Xiph. (65, 17) 
agrees with T. 
1g() 1. Enavatae. So the MSS. The common editions have na- 
vatac. Ritter observes a fondness in T. for the use of e in composi- 
tion to denote consummation. Cf. evicta, 2, G4. 

5. Absciso is omitted in the common editions, but is found in all 
the MSS., and is not superfluous : his head having been cut off, they 
drag his mutilated body. 

6. Gemonias, sc. scalas. Cf. Lev. Lex. and Anthon's Class. Die 
sub voce. 

Ch. LXXV. — 8. In republica. As we say, in the service of his 
country, not of a civil faction, or a military chieftain. Ernesti thought 
the words superfluous, or at least misplaced. 

13. Q,«od constiterit. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 3; Z. 559. 

Or., following Duebner, makes it = constitit, ni fallor. 

18. Consulis. Quinctius Atticus, named with Sabinus, 73 and 
74, supra. 

19. Velut .... reddens. Reciprocating, as it were, the favor 
of Atticus in assuming the responsibility of having fired the capitol. 

Ch. LXXVI. — 24. Feroniam. A town of Latium, celebrated for 
the grove and the worship of Feronia, the Latin goddess of liberty. 
Brotier. Cf. Hor. Sat. 1, 5, 24. 

25. Tarracinae. Cf. note, 60, supra. 

2T. Periculum is the object of audebant, which takes an ace. 
Cf. Gr. 229, R. 2. In the other clause, audebant is followed by an 
inf. (egredi). For the case of moenia, cf. Gr. 233, R. 1. It is pecu- 
liar to the age of T. to use the ace. after verbs compounded with e or 
ex. Sail, and Liv. use the abl. ; Cic. the abl. with ex repeated. Cf. 
Z. 386. — Ut .... memoravimus. Cf. 57, supra. 

28. Lascivia .... similes. The common editions connect this 
clause with the next sentence, to the manifest injury of the sense and 
spirit. 



book in. 385 

Page 

30. Intuta moenium, amoeiia litorum. Cf. note, 65: offen~-izr\ 
earum operta. 

31. Person antes. Sono vocum musicorumque instrumentorum 
implentes. Rup. Cf. Virg. Aen. 6, 171. 

33. Apinius Tiroo Cf. 57, supra. 

Ch. LXXVII. — ST. Perfugit, sc. from the garrison of Tarracina, 
38. Tradi futurum* Al. traditurum. The slave promised 
that it would come to pass that the citadel would be delivered up, 
not that he himself would deliver it up. So Wr. s Ober. and Bach, 
after the Medicean MS. — Malta node. In the dead of night ; more 
lit. deep in the night : when the night was far advanced. 

12. In ore ejus. In his presence. — Triariam. Cf. 2, 63. JgQ 

13. Incesserent. Al. incesserint. Cf. 78 : arguerent. 

15. Laurearn. A letter bound with bay leaves. Cf. note, A. 18 : 
laureatis. Pliny employs the word in the same unusual sense, 
Panegyr. 8.— IT. Juberet. Subj. Cf. Gr. 265 ; Z. 552. 

Ch. LXXVIII.— 24. Digressus Narnia, etc. Cf. 58 and 63, 
supra. 

25. Festos .... dies. The Saturnalia began on the 17th of 
December. It was the Roman Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or both 
combined, especially to the rustic population, who having now finished 
their agricultural labors, were read)'- to celebrate a joyous harvest- 
home. Cf. Die. Antiq., Saturnalia. 

26. Ocriculi. A town of Umbria, near the confluence of the 
Nar and the Tiber, now Oiricoli. 

33. Ctuando. Cf. note, 8, supra. It is here followed, first by the 
subj., to denote the motive of the generals, as reported by quidam, and 
secondly by the ind., to convey an additional thought of the historian. 

34r. Cessurus imperio. Cf. note, 2, 55 : cessissc. 

38. Nequivisset. Subj. after qui = talis, ut = such a man 
that he could not. — Haud facile. Cf. note, 28, supra. 

2. Antonius .... meruit. Antonius, with illtimed submission, Jgl 
or with the design of retorting the odium (sc. offsetting the affair at 
Cremona by those of Rome and the Capitol) deserved censure. 

6. Salaria via. A road leading from the salt-works at Ostia 
through the country of the Sabines to Rome, which it entered through 
the Colline gate. 

Ch. LXXIX. — 9. Flaminiam, sc. viam. Cf. note, 1, 86. — Saxa 
rubra. A place on the Flaminian road in Etruria, nine miles from 
Rome. — Multo noctis. Cf. note, 77 : multa nocte. 

19. Nuper .... dediti. Cf. 63, supra. 

21. Fuga consternantur. Intelligenda consternatio cum foeda 
fuga conjuncta. Wr. 

Ch. LXXX. — 24r. Raptis .... telis. Omnes rapiunt tela, sed 
unusquisque quod sibi obvium. Hence the sing. quod. Wr. Ernesti 

33 



386 NOTES. 

Page 

-i^i compares Virg. Aen. 7, 507 : quod cuique repertum rimanti telum ira 
fecit. — 31. Aruleuus Rusticus. Cf. A. 2, and note, ibid. 

32. Propria .... viri. The personal merit, or peculiar worth, 
of the man. 

33. Palantur is considered by Dod. to be passive here. Cf. Essay, 
p. 10. — Proximus lictor. The lictors went before the magistrates, one 
by one in a line. He who went last, or next to the magistrate, was 
called proximus lictor. Cf. Diet. Antiq., Lictor. 

35. In . . . gentes. Al. inter. ■ Bach., Rup., Or. and Dod. explain 
in = apud : sacred even with (or to) foreign nations. Wr., Ober. 
and Bip. connect in gentes with legatoritm : ambassadors to foreign 
nations. The former gives the better sense and accords with the use 
of in by Tac. and even Cicero, e. g. Verr. 4, 11 : in exteras nationes, 
where in = apud. 
162 Ch. LXXXI. — 1. Musonius Rufus. Named as a philosopher of 
Tuscan origin, Ann. 14, 59 ; 15, 71. 

2. Placita from placeo = dogmas from <Ww. 

T. Obviac fuere. Met them, sc. the Flavian troops. 

8. Virgines Vestales. Ad rem, cf. Suet. Vitel. 16. The vestal 
virgins not un frequently acted the part of intercessors, as for instance 
with Sylla for Julius Caesar. Suet. Jul. 1 ; Cic. pro Font. 17. Cf. also 
Ann. 3, G9 ; 11, 32 ; Diet. Antiq., Vestales. 

9. Certamini. Al. cert amine. Utrumque probum ; sed illud 
Tacito usitatius. Rup. — Unum diem. Al. unam. Cf. Gr. 90 ; also 
Lexicon, sub dies. We should say : he earnestly requested that the 
final conflict be put off for one day. 

12. Belli commercia. Negotiations. Compare the reply of 
iEneas to Turnus, Aen. 10, 532: Belli commercia Turnus sustulit. 

Ch. LXXXiL— 14. Pontem Mulvium. Cf. note, 1, 87. 

IT. Delubris. This word denotes a temple, as a place of puri- 
fication and atonement. Rams. 38 ; Freund, sub voce. 

23. Trinis. Poetice for tribus. Cf. Gr. 120, 4. 

24. Praesidiis. Used for agminibus, to avoid repetition. 

27. Sallustiaiios hortos. These famous gardens were in the 
suburbs of Rome near the Colline gate. They derive their name from 
the historian Sallust, who constructed and adorned them with every 
attraction which the plundered treasures of Numidia could purchase. 
They became, after his death, a favorite residence of the emperors. 

3 2. Desperatione sola, sc. adjuti, or pro suis partibus. Cf. Essay, 
p. 17. 
Jg3 Ch. LXXXIII. — 4. Scortis similes, i. e. pathici. Rup. — Quan- 
tum .... libidinum. All the licentious pleasures of a luxurious 
peace. It is to be borne in mind, that this was the period of the Sat^ 
urnalia. Cf. 78. Hence festis diebus below. 

•5. Prorsus. In a word. 



book in. 387 

Page 

9. Inhumana securitas. Inhuman indifference. Cf. note, 2, 70.i£q 

10. Velut .... accederet. As if this pleasure also (sc. of see- 
ing the fight) were added to the usual entertainments of these festive 
days. The punctuation of the last clause is different in different edi- 
tions, some placing a semicolon after exsultabant, others after frue- 
bantur, and others still, allowing no such pause. Exsultabant implies 
more outward demonstrations of pleasure ; fruebantur, inward enjoy- 
ment. Imagination never portrayed a more vivid and moving picture 
of mingled ferocity and voluptuousness than the pen of our historian 
has sketched. Its credibility has been called in question. But Florus 
(3, 21) affirms the same of the civil war between Marius and Sylla. 
The last grievous calamity that befell the Romans, was a war waged 
by parricides within the walls of Rome, in which citizens were engaged 
against citizens with the rage of gladiators exhibiting a spectacle in the 
forum. 

Ch. LXXXIV. — 13. Oppugnatione castrorum. The camp of 
the praetorian guards, a little way out of the city, where it was first 
located by Sejanus in the time of Tiberius. Ann. 4, 2. Cf. Diet. Antiq. 
sub voce, Praetoriani, and note, 1, 39 : vocibus in urbem. 

21. Recipiantur, sc. castra. The veteres cohortes, i. e. the old 
praetorians discharged by Vitellius, might with special propriety speak 
of retaking their old camp. 

24. Suprema .... solatia. These words are in appos. with in- 
quietare, morari and foedare, all which depend on amplectebantur ; 
these acts of vengeance were the last solace of the conquered. Ernesti 
understands by suprema . . . solatia their wives and children ! 

2T. Contrariis vulneribus. With wounds in front. Versi in 
hostem (a superfluous clause in the view of some), gives the cause of 
this: since they faced the enemy to the last. So Wr. 

Ch. LXXXV. — 30. Sellula. Dim. of sella, on which see note, 
1,27. 

31. Diem stands opposed to noctu understood, when he would 
have fled to Tarracina, had he escaped the peculiar dangers of the 
day. 

3 7. Pudenda latebra. A dog's kennel, according to Xiph. 65, 
20 ; according to Suet. Vitel. 16, the porter's lodge. 

3. E . . . militibus. Doubtless one of the emperor's body-guard. Jg A 

4. Per iram, etc. T. here adverts to three distinct suppositions : 

1. That the soldier aimed a hostile blow at Vitellius out of resentment ; 

2. That he did it out of compassion, to rescue him from further insults ; 

3. That the blow was intended for the tribune. According to Xiph. 
65, 21, the soldier said, I will give you the best assistance in my pow- 
er, and thereupon he stabbed Vitellius and dispatched himself. 

11. Una vox. Al. vox una. Una vox has the authority of all 
the MSS. and lays the emphasis, where it belongs, on the number. 



388 notes. 

Jg4 13. Concidit. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 17, where the account is more 
full and particular. 

Ch. LXXXVI. — 15. Patria .... Lmceria. The various read- 
ings here are many- But this is, with a slight alteration, the reading 
of the best two MSS. and accords with Suet. Vitel. 1. Luceria was 
an ancient city of Apulia, now Lucera. Cf. Anth. Class. Diet. — Sep- 
timum .... annum. So Suet. 18 ; Eutrop. 7, 12 ; Vict. Caes. 10. But 
Xiph. (G5, 22) says, he lived 54 years and 89 days. 

1 8. Cuncta . . . adeptus. Foedis quoque in Caligulam, Claudium 
et Neronern obsequiis. Brotier. 

23. Continere. Al. contineri. But it is a needless conjecture. 
The remark refers to what Vitellius vainly expected to do for himself, 
not to what he laid down as a general principle. 

24. Meruit .... habuit. He earned friends, rather than had 
them, as is usually the case with those who seek to buy them. 

25. Imputare. Cf. note, 1, 71. Praetendere non possunt, se 
reipublicae causa Vitellium prodidisse. Pichena. 



BOOK IV. 

Jg7 Ch. I. — 2. Per urbem. Notice the position of these words. They 
do not limit consectabantur, but arrnati victores : armed victors in 
every quarter of the city. 

6. Procerum . . . . juventa. The German soldiers were tall (cf. 
G. 4 : rnagna corpora) and youthful; and under pretence of slaying 
them, they slew indiscriminately, soldier and citizen, all whom they 
could in any way contrive to confound with them. 

8. Recentibus odiis. When their hatred was fresh, i. e. in the 
heat of battle. — Dcin verterat. Had soon after changed. The plup. 
denotes the suddenness of the change. Z. 508. 

11. Nee deerat .... prodere. Prodere depends on deerat. In 
the common editions it is separated from it by a colon. But deesse 
usually takes after it either an inf. or a dat. or a pred. nom. to limit its 
meaning. Cf. 3, 58 : deerat elicere. 

14. Fortunae. The vicissitudes, all the varied fortunes. Com- 
pare the Gr. rvxat, cvfjupopai. Al. forma and fortuna. Forma is a 
mere conjecture. 

IT. Turbas et discordias .... pax et quies. Notice the pairs 
of synonyms, or rather kindred words. Cf. note, 1, 84. 

Ch. II. — 20. Sedem. Residence, sc. the imperial palace. At 
first he was conducted to the private house of his father. 3, 86. 



book iv. 389 

21. Stupris et adulteriis. Cf. A. 7; Suet. Dom. 1 and22;i£»nr 
Xiph. 66, 3. 26, etc. 

22. Agebat. Cf. note, 1, 30. 

4r. Oeeupari = praeveniri. Cf. note, 1, 40. — Tarracina. Cf. Jgg 
note, 3, 60. 

5. Ariciani. An ancient town of Latium, at the foot of Mons 
Albanus, about 16 miles from Rome. The Aricinum Nemus (cf. note, 
3, 36) was near, whence the present name of the place, Nemi. 

6. Bovillas. An ancient town 10 miles from Rome. It was on 
the Appian Road, as was also Ariel a. — Nee = et non, correl. to et 
miles. 

16. Adversis abstractus. Ruined (lit. dragged down, swept 
away) by his adversity. 

Ch. III. — IT. liiicilius Bassus. Whose treachery is described, 
3,12. 

18. Discordibus aiiimis, as well as contumacia, is abl. of cause 
limiting mittitur. 

21. Capuae, etc. That is, of the larger towns (opposed to mino- 
ribus coloniis), Capua was punished for its fidelity to Vitellius (3, 57) ; 
but Tarracina was not rewarded, though it favored the party of Ves- 
pasian (3, 76) ; which gives rise to the striking and yet just reflection 
which follows. 

25. Q,ueni .... diximus. Cf. 3, 77. The crucifixion of this 
slave was some consolation to the people of Tarracina for not being 
rewarded as they deserved. Observe the Latin idiom, the concrete, 
servus affixus, where we use the abstract, crucifixion. 

2T. Aimulis. The badge of knighthood (cf. note, 1, 13) still on 
his hands was now only a mark of derision. 

28. Cuncta .... decernit. So at the accession of Otho (1, 47) 
and of Vitellius (2, 55), where see note on cuncta. 

3 2. Lustraverant has for its subject civilia arma. 

34:. Tanquam .... bello, i. e. he did not write like a conqueror 
dictating his own terms, but as if peace was yet to be established ; 
such at least was the first aspect of the letter (ea . . . .forma), yet 
on closer inspection his language was that of an emperor, uttering 
modest sentiments (those becoming a citizen) touching himself, and 
excellent sentiments in regard to the republic. ^ , 

3T. Consulare imperium. It was usual to confer perpetual 
consular authority on the emperor's sons. Wr. It should be added, 
that his father and brother, the consuls for the year, were both absent. 

Ch. IV. — 3. Pubiice. Rei publicae nomine, in causis publicis. JgQ 
E*iesti. To address the senate thus (on the general interests of the 
state) was not in character for a private citizen. Cf. note, 2, 55 : 
gratior .... scripsisset. — Paucos . . . dies, sc. on his arrival at Rome. 
— Loco sententiae, sc. in his place as a senator. 

33* 



390 NOTES. 

Pa»e 

i/?q 8. Multo cum honore. Cf. note, 2, 37 : magna ex parte. 

9. Triumphalia. Cf. note, A. 40. — De hello civium, i. e. really 
for his agency in dethroning Vitellius, but nominally for his defeat of 
the Sarmatians, or the Dacians as they are called, 3, 46, where the 
victory of Mucianus is narrated. The Sarmatians and Dacians often 
acted in concert. Cf. 54, below. A triumph was never granted for a 
victory over Roman citizens. 

1 2. Mox, sc. after honoring men, thus reversing the proper order. 
Gall. 14, 7. 

16. Ubi ventum, i. e. in calling on the senators to give their 
opinions in the order of their rank and honors. Cf. Diet. Antiq., 
Senatus. — Helvidium Prise um. Cf. note and text, 2, 91 ; also note, 
A. 2. 

18. Falsa aberant = ita falsis carentem, i. e. though respectful 
to the emperor, yet devoid of false adulation. The enallage is very 
bold. 

19. Praecipuus = praecipue. Dod. 

Ch. V.— 21. Iterum. Cf. 2, 91. Helvidius Priscus is often men- 
tioned in the Annals. But the Annals were not composed till after 
the History. At the time of writing this, therefore, he could say ite- 
rum incidimus, we have happened to mention a second time. 

23. Q,uali .... sit usus. Subj. of the indirect question. — Repe- 
tam. Cf. note, 1, 4: repetendum. 

24. Primi pili. Cfc note, 1, 31 : primipilaribus. For the subj. 
(duxisset), cf. Gr. 264, 1 ; Z. 558. 

28. Doctores . . . qui . . . aunumerant. The Stoics. Cf. note, 
A. 44: vera bona ; also Cic. de Fin. 3, 7, et al. 

31. Q,uaestorius. Helvidius quaestor fuit sub Nerone et Achai- 
am administravit. Lipsius. — Paeto Thrasea. Cf. note, A. 2. 

3 2. Libertatem, etc. Dion. (66, 12) says, it was an iiltimed 
imitation of Thrasea's freedom of speech. 

34. Pervicax is not found in Cic. or Ca3s. Cf. Freund, sub voce. 
It is rarely used in a good sense, as it is here. 

Ch. VI.— 36. Appetentior. Cf. Gr. 256, R. 9.— Videretur. Subj. 
Cf. Gr. 264, 6 : Z. 561. — Quando .... exuitur. Do sententia, cf. 
A. 9 : famam, cui etiam saepe boni indulgent. Valer. Flac. 1, 76; 
CiS. Or. pro Archia, 11. Plato and Epictetus both denominate love 
of glory the last garment (%trwv) that we put off. 

38. Marcellum Eprium. Cf. notes, 2, 53. 95. 
170 1. Delatorem Thraseae. Cf. Ann. 16, 28. 29 ; and note, 1, 2: 
delatorum. 

2. Major, sc. in its consequences. Cf. nam si caderet, etc. 

5. Testatum. Attested to T. and his cotemporaries by the ora- 
tions of both, which were still preserved. Wr. 

!!• Priscus ... .juratis. Priscus demanded that they (the 



BOOK IV. 391 

Pagre 

ambassadors) should be chosen expressly for the purpose by magis- '['JO 
trates under oath. Cf. note, 1, 43 : nominatim. Besides the oath of 
office, senators and magistrates were sometimes put under oath to be 
faithful in a particular duty. Cf. Ann. 4, 21 : jurati senatus; also 
Diet. Antiq., Oaths. 

1 2. Urnam. An urn was used to receive the names in drawing 
lots. Cf. Hor. Od. 3, 1, 16 ; Virg. Aen. 6, 432. Hence urnam = 
soriem. Cf. 7 : sorte et urna. — Quae consults designati, etc. It was 
usual to call on the consuls elect, if present, for their opinion first. Cf. 
Diet. Antiq., Senatus. 

Ch. VII. — 20. Suffragia. Observe the etymology of the word. 
Cf. Lev. Lex. — Existimationem senatus = judicio senatus below. 

23. Occurrere. Meet him and escort him with due honor to 
Rome, as Vitellius, 2, 59 ; Agricola, A. 40 ; Cic. pro Mil. 35. 

25. Sorano, who shared the hatred of Nero with Thrasea, Ann. 
16, 21, seq. — Sentio. The name of an unknown person. The text is 
disputed. Senecio occurs in two or three MSS. But he belonged to a 
later generation. Cf. A. 2. Seneca has been suggested, but it is with- 
out MS. authority. 

29. Satis Marcello, sc. sit or esse. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

SO. Frueretur. Cf. note, agerent, 1, 41. 

Ch. VIII. — 34:. Censuisse. Had advanced the opinion, sc. which 
Helvidius impugned. — Vetera exempla. Cic. Epis. ad Att. 1, 17; 
Suet. Aug. 35 ; Dio. 59, 23. 

1. Animus . . . suspeiisus. The mind of Vespasian, at the com- \*7\ 
mencement of his reign, still unsettled. 

3. Se meniinisse, etc. He remembered the spirit of the age in 
which he lived, the form of government which their fathers and grand- 
sires had established, sc. the imperial, which had originated about two 
generations previous. 

8. Per .... imagines, i. e. the forms of law and justice, such as 
a prosecutor and a board of judges. 

lO. Se ununi esse. He was only a member of that senate, 
which, like himself, had submitted to the reigning despot. An ad- 
mirable speech for a demagogue. 

18. Mediis patrunu Neutri parti faventibus, inter duas partes 
medium quasi tenentibus. Rup. 

Ch. IX. — 21. Nam turn .... aerarium. The treasury of the 
Roman republic was under the care of the quaestors. Augustus trans- 
ferred it to the prsetors and those who had been praetors. Suet. Oct. 
36. Claudius restored it to the qua?stors, and Nero again transferred 
it to the praetors. Ann. 13, 29 ; Suet. Claud. 24. Hence the propri- 
ety of Tacitus' stating how it was at this time (turn). 

24. Consul .... reservabat. The consul elect (in the exercise 
of his prerogative to give his opinion first, cf. note 6) proposed to re- 



392 NOTES. 

Page 

YJ\ serve (was inclined to reserve) the treasury for the emperor. For this 
use of the imperf., cf. Gr. 145, II. 4. 

26. Perrogareiit. Subj. Cf. 263, 5, R. 2; Z. 578. Observe 
the force of per, asked through, i. e. all round in order. 

2T. Iiitercessit. Interposed his veto. 

31. Oblivio. Abl. from oblivium which in the sing, occurs only 
in T., though the poets use the pi. oblivia. — Meminissent. Remem- 
bered it and reported it to Vespasian to the ruin of Helvidius. Cf. 
note on Helvidius, A. 2. The proposal to repair the Capitol at the 
expense and by the authority of the commonwealth (publice) with the 
help of Vespasian, was deemed derogatory to the honoj of the empe- 
ror. Meminissent. Subj. Cf. Gr. 264, 6 ; Z. 561. Plup. Gr. 183, 3, 
Note; Z. 221. 

Cii. X. — 33. P. Celerem. A Stoic philosopher, the client, friend 
and master of Soranus, and also his betrayer. 

38. Amicitiae, cujus. Such is the reading of all the MSS. The 
common editious have, amici et cujus, an emendation of Lipsius. But 
the reading of the MSS. has the same meaning. Amicitiae is the 
friendship between Soranus and Celer, of which Celer was the master 
by haying trained Soranus for it, but which he afterwards betrayed 
and violated {proditor corrupt or que). So Wr. and Or. 
172 **• EXBpectabantur, i. e. their participation in the cause was 
looked to as giving it its chief interest. 

Ch. XI. — 8. Dissimulata .... iracuntlia is abl. of cause limiting 
fracta. — Qumnris .... tegeretur. Cf. Gr. 263, 2 ; Z. 574. 

1 2. Excubiis. Guards. See these set down as characteristic of 
sovereignty, Ann. 1,7: excubiae, cetera aulae. 

13. Calpurnii Galeriaui. Son of Caius Calpurnius Piso (Ann. 
14, 65; 15,48-59), and son-in-law of Lucius Piso (49, infra). His 
only crime was his high birth (nomen) and his personal attractions 
(decora juventa). 

15. Ipsi. Dat. for gen. = his own, in distinction from the name 
which he inherited from his ancestors. 

1 8. Xe .... foret gives the reason for putting him to death forty 
miles from the city. Ibi villa monumentumque Calpurniorum erat, 
et adhuc reperiuntur inscripti lapides, qui ad gentis hujus libertos per- 
tinent. Brotier.— 20. Julius Priscus. Cf. 2, 92 ; 3, 55. 

21. Pudore, sc. for their cowardly flight, 3, 61. 

22. Necessitate. Cf. note, 1,3: necessitates. — Alfenus Varus. 
Colleague of Priscus. Cf. 3, 36. 55. 61. — Ignaviae .... suae. Dat. 
of the end = to lead a life of inaction and infamy. 

23. Asiaticus. The favorite freedman of Vitellius. Cf. 2, 57. 
95. — Enim refers to a suppressed clause of this purport : but not so 
with Asiaticus, for he, etc. — Is libertus gives the reason why Asiaticus 
was punished like a slave (crucified), viz. that he had been a slave. 



book iv. 393 

Page 

Ch. XII. — 30. Batavi. See the same account of the origin of 1 70 
the Batavi and of their country, in different language, G. 29. 

3 2. Inter vada sitam, i. e. interpenetrated by shallow waters. 
Cf. our author's description of the island, 5, 23 : palustrem humilem- 
que insulam. Al. juxta sitam, Wr., Rup. and Or. ; nunc Bataviam, 
Oberlin ; and many other conjectural readings. The MSS. differ much. 
The Medicean here has no meaning. The only reading in which 
there is any agreement, is that given in the text, which is adopted by 
Wr. and Dod. 

33. Mare Oceaniim. Oceanum is an adj. Cf. Caes. B. G. 3, 7. 
Al. Oceanus. — Tergum ac later a. The object of circumluit by en- 
allage, instead of a tergis ac lateribus. 

34r. Opibus Romanls. By Roman power. — Societate validiorum 
explains opibus Romanis : by Roman power, that is, by alliance with 
a more powerful nation, which usually exhausted and ruined (attriti) 
the weaker party. The Batavians fared better than the allies of Rome 
usually did. 

35. Viros tantum, etc., i. e. they do not pay tribute. Cf. 17: 
tributorum expertes ; also G. 29. 

38. Praecipuo .... studio. Cf. A. 18: patrius nandi usus, 
etc. Perrumpere depends on studio. 

Ch. XIII. — 3. Paullns and Civiliswere brothers; compare with ]7Q 
this the words of Civilis below, 32: necem frairis et vincula mea. 

4. Fonteius Capito. Cf. 1, 7. 

IO. Simili .... dehonestamento. Sertorius and Hannibal were 
blind of one eye. Cf. Plut. Sertor. ; and Liv. 22, 2. — Ne .... iretur. 
Lest he should be met as an enemy. 

14:. Vitellio. Al. a Vitellio. Cf. note, 1, 86: auctoribus. 

16. Animo et . . . cura. Two reasons for the advice of Flaccus. 

IT. Adventabat. Would have come, was already coming as it 
were. Cf. notes, 3, 46: coeperant, ni ; A. 13 : ni . . . .fuissent. Z. 
519. 

Ch. XIV. — 23. Avaritia ac luxu. Avaritia showed itself in 
drafting the aged or invalids and exacting money for their release ; 
luxus in the scandalous abuse of the young and the beautiful, who 
were particularly numerous among the Batavians. Cf. note, 3, 33 : 
quis .... conspicuus. 

29. Nocte ac laetitia. Hendiadys. By the pleasures (festivi- 
ties) of the night. See in G. 22, the German custom of deliberating 
on great questions at feasts prolonged through the day and the night. 

31. Neque societatem. Nor was it an alliance, as formerly. 

3 2. Q,uando .... venire. Plenius T. scripsisset : quando lega- 
tum venire ? quanquam legatum molestum gravi comitatu et superbo 
imperio : sed ne venire quidem ; tradi se, etc. Wr. 

35. Novos sinus. New plunderers, lit. new laps or bosoms to 



394 NOTES. 

Page 

173 k® filled. Cf. 2, 92 : ambitiosos sinus; 3, 19 : opes in sinu praefecto- 
ru?n legatorumque fore. 

174 ^* Cujus .... reddi, i. e. if unsuccessful, they could claim a re- 
ward from Vespasian for their (pretended) zeal in his service ; but if 
successful, no account need be rendered of their conduct. 

Ch. XV.— 7. Q,ui sociarent. Cf. Gr. 264, 5 ; Z. 567. 

11* TJt . . . retulimus, sc. 2, 69. These Batavian cohorts had long 
served in Britain as auxiliaries of the 14th legion. Cf. 1, 59. 64. 
Hence they are here called Britannica auxilia. — Magontiaci. A town 
of Belgic Gaul, now Mentz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine 
and the Maine. 

1 2. Brinno. This word probably has the same roof as Brennus, 
the name of the commander of the Gauls when they sacked Rome. 
It seems to be the official designation of a prince or leader among the 
Gauls, like Pharaoh in Egypt. 

11. Caianarum . . . . ludibrium. The ridiculous campaigns 
of Caligula. Cf. G. 37 ; Ann. Books 7 and 8 ; also note, A. 39 : fal- 
sum .... triumphum. 

15. Ipso .... placuit. The people were pleased with (lit. he 
pleased them by) the my name of a rebel family, i. e. with the very 
fact, that like his father, ho had rebelled against the Romans. Orelli. 
Al. amine for nomine. 

16. More mentis. This custom was afterwards adopted from the 
Gauls and Goths by the Romans. Cf. Or. in loc. 

21. Q,uod militum, sc. erat = what few soldiers they had. 
Signa, vexilla and quod militum make up the subject of congregan- 
tur, and nomen is in apposition with them. 

28, Xerviorum. A Gallic tribe, who aspired to the honor of 
being Germans. Cf. note, G. 28. — Germanorum, sc. cis Rhenum co- 
lentium. — Segnem numerum. Cf. Hor. Epis. 1, 2, 27 : 7ws numerus 
sumus = a mere number, that count, but cannot do. 

29. Oneraverat is very expressive, implying that their arms were 
a burden. 

Ch. XVI. — 38. Propriis cuneis. In the wedge-form masses 
peculiar to those tribes. The Germans usually arranged their troops 
in form of a wedge. Cf. note, G. 6. Dod. makes cuneis dat. for in 
.... cuneos, Essay, p. 13. 

175 !• ^ x diverse On the opposite side, sc. that of the Romans, 
the line of battle was drawn up not far from the river Rhine, and 
with the ships facing the enemy. Diversus is very often used for 
adversus. Cf. note, A. 1 1 : in diversa. 

3. Certato. Cf. Gr. 257, R. 9 ; Z. 647 ; and note, 3, 20 : explo- 
rato. 

6. E Batavis, i. e. being Batavians. 
9. Volentis = volentes. Cf. Z. 2. 



book iv. 395 

Page 

Ch. XVII. — 15. Germaiiiae. Upper and Lower Germany, not iwk 
Germany proper. Cf. note, 1, 9. 

26. Vindicis aciem. Cf. note, 1, 8. Civilis artfully calls it a 
battle {aciem), not, as it really was, a defeat and slaughter (cladem). 
And he proceeds immediately to impute the success of the opposite 
army to the valor of the Batavian horse, who were now under his 
command : it was by the Batavian horse (under Vergiuius) that the 
JEdui (under Vindex) and the Arverni (hodie, Auvergne) were tram- 
pled under foot. — 2?. Verginii. Cf. note, 1,8: Vindicis. 

29. Addito agrees with the following clause, which is thus put in 
the abl. abs. : with the addition of all the discipline, etc. 

30. Esse secum .... procubuerint* Observe the present and 
perfect here in the oratio obliqua. We can use only the imperfect 
and pluperfect (if we use the present and perfect, we must say we and 
us, in other words adopt the oratio recta) ; the Latins may use either 
class of tenses with the same subject, se. Cf. note, 1, 32 : si poeniteat. 

33. Ante tributa. The reference here is to the census and tri- 
bute imposed on the Gauls by Augustus, a. u. c. 727. Cf. Ann. 1, 31. 
33.-34. Caeso Varo, Cf. G. 37, note. 

Ch. XVIII. — 5. Flaccus Hordeonius. Observe the inverted or- J^6 
der of the names Flaccus Hordeonius. Cf. 1,9: Hordeonius Flaccus, 
which in early times was always the order, but often disregarded in 
later times. Cf. Z. 797, and note on the names of Agricola, A. 4. 

T. Romanum nomeii = Romanos omnes. So Livy, passim. 

lO. E praesentilms. Of those on the spot. E proximis. Of 
those nearest at hand. — 11. Agentis. Cf. note, 16: volentis. 

15. Ut . . . . gloria. Sub. esset. Cf. Essay, p. 14. 

19. Nequaquam .... clamor. Ominous of defeat. Cf. note, 
G. 3 : terrent. 

24. Totis campis. The abl. with totus, denoting place, usually 
stands without a prep. Cf. Z. 482. 

2T. Oppidano certamine. In a quarrel, as townsmen, probably 
for the pre-eminence. — 29. Avehitur, sc. by Civilis. 

Ch. XIX. — 30. Batavoruin .... cohortes. Auxiliares Roma- 
norum ex istis populis scriptas. Ernesti. 

33. Pretium .... donativum. These words are in apposition: 
they demanded as the price of their march, a donative, double pay, 
and an increase of the number of horse (the cavalry had easier ser- 
vice and better pay) ; all which had, in fact (sane), been promised 
them, by Vitellius. 

2. Mox .... ministris. Presently influenced by his natural yf 1 ] 
sluggishness (cf. 1, 9) and by the fears of his subordinates. Abl. of 
cause, limiting statuit. 

5. Dein .... ipsis. Afterwards changing his purpose and cen- 
sured by the very persons who, etc. Dein is correlative to mox. 



396 NOTES 

177 "*• Bouiiam - Now Bonn. This is the earliest mention of Bonn 
in history. Cf. Rnp. in loc. — Transitu. Crossing, sc. the Rhine at 
Bonn. 

Ch. XX. — 19. Si obsisteret . . . . sin occurrant. Cf. note, 75, 
infra : si velit . ... si mallet. 

21. Expei-iretur. At. ut . . . . experiretnr. But ut is wanting 
in all the MSS. Of course it is to be supplied., as in so many other 
exhortations, e. g, 2, 46: haheret ; 3, 64: capesseret. Aug. to try. 

24. Rumpunt for erumpunt. Essay, pp. 10. 11. 

31. Interire. Histor. infin. Al. interiere. — Colonia Agrippi- 
nensium. Now Cologne. Cf. G. 28, and note there on conditoris ; 
also infra, 28 : Romanorum nomen. 

33. Sibimctipsi consuluissent» They had fought in self- 
defence. 

Ch. XXI. — 35. Justi. Suitable, sufficient. So Livy often. 

178 **• Arbitriuiu .... ageret. Take upon himself the sovereign 
disposal. Al. arbitrum. But cf. Liv. 24, 45: arbitria agere ; also 
Ann. 13, 49. 

Cn. XXII. — lO. Concurrentis may bo taken either with belli = 
gathering, or with minas for concurrentes = simultaneous. The 
former is the better. 

1 2. Subversa, etc. They (the legati) demolished the works 
which during a long peace had been built up in the neighborhood of 
the camp into something like a town. These appendages of camps 
were not uncommon, especially on the borders where camps were per- 
manent. They were frequented by merchants, mechanics, and all 
men of business. 

15. Rapi. Seized by force and in haste, instead of being procured 
in the regular way. 

IT. Medium .... obtinens. Commanding the centre in person 
at the head of the flower of the Batavians. 

18. Q,uo .... foret gives the reason for placing the Germans 
who were peculiarly truculenti, on both banks of the Rhine, viz. that 
he (Civilis) might appear the more formidable. 

20. In ... . agebantur. Advanced against the current. 

21. Depromptae . . . imagines. The standards of the Germans, 
Cf. G. 7 : effigies .... detract a lucis, in prcslium ferunt. 

24. Duabus .... situm. Built (lit. located) for two legions. 

25. Armatorum Romanorum stands opposed to lixarum, who 
were unarmed and for the most part provincials. 

Ch. XXIII. — 30. Neqne . . . malorum, sc. fore crediderat : nor 
had he anticipated that there would ever be such a depth of misfor- 
tunes. 

32. Satis placebant = sufficere ei videbantur. Rup. Per at- 
tractionem pro vim et arma satis fore placebat. Dod. 



book iv. 397 

Page 

33* Transrhenani. The Germans mentioned, 21, supra. "17ft 

38. Scalis, testudinem. Cf. notes, 3, 27 ; and Man. and Diet. 
Antiq. sub voce, for these and other military terms which follow. 

1. Armorum incussu. The dashing of shields and bucklers. \*JQ 
Arma = defensive armor, properly for the shoulders (armi). Incussu 

is post- Augustan. Cf. note, G. 3 : repercussu. 

9. Crates, vineas, tormentis. Cf. notes, 3, 20, and references 
there. 

10. Ardentes hastae = falaricae, but T. avoids the technical 
name. Cf. Essay, p. 20. 

Ch. XXIV.— 15. Obsidio. Cf. note, 9: oblivio. 

1 8. Ipse navibus, sc. celeraturus : himself intending to go by 
ship, because he was feeble, etc. Cf. Essay, p. 15. Al. ipse pavidus. 

20. Dissimulatos. Connived at. 

2T • Q,uin. Cf. note, 3, 20 : quin ferimus. 

28. Traditore. Traditorem pro proditore apud veteres dici ne- 
gant interpretes. At imitator noster Graecorum, qui plane sic usur- 
pant verbum Trapahiowjxi, irapdSoais : nee inepte Hordeonius traditor 
dici poterat, quia videbatur traditurus esse Vespasiano imperium ex- 
ercitusque. Wr. — 29. Flainmavere. Cf. note, 2, 74. 

Ch. XXV. — 1. Tot provinciarum == auxiliorumex tot provinciis. JgQ 
— Repens = recens. Cf. note, 1, 23. 

2. Exemplares instead of exemplaria, which is the reading of the 
common editions, but not of the best MSS. Exemplares is found in 
other late writers. 

7. Usurpandi juris, sc. causa, which is not unfrequently omitted 
by T. before the gen. of the gerundive. Cf. Ann. 2, 59 : cognoscendae 
antiquitatis ; 3, 9: vitandae suspicionis. It is a deviation from Latin 
syntax, and imitation of the Greek idiom. Cf. Z. 663 ; Gr. 275, III. (5). 

13. Quin, etc. Nay more, that very soldier even charged con- 
scious guilt upon his general. 

Ch. XXVI. — 24. Commeatus is, properly, supplies brought in, 
by convoy or forage. These were straitened, (arcti) by the circum- 
stances mentioned in the context. Dod. takes commeatus in the sense 
of liberty to go and come, to avoid tautology with inopia frumenti. 
But cf. 3, 13 : in arcto commeatum. 

28. Amnes .... munimenta. Hendiadys, or rather Vetera .... 
munimenta is epexegetical of amnes. Cf. G. 29 : ultra Rhenum ul- 
traque veteres terminos ; A. 41 : de limite imperii et ripa. 

29. Q,uod . . . vocabatur. The observation which T. has com- 
pressed into a maxim, is explained by Cicero in his more open style. 
Having mentioned a number of prodigies, he says : Atque haec in 
bello piura et majora videntur timentibus ; eadem non tarn animadver- 
tuntur in pace. Accedit illud etiam, quod in metu et periculo, cum 
credentur facilius, turn finguntur impunius. Cic. de Div. 2, 27. This 

34 



398 NOTES. 

ion may account for the many portents and prodigies recorded in the Ro- 
man historians, who are often said to be superstitious, when they are 
giving a true picture of the public mind. See the phenomena of this 
kind, 1, 86: supra. Murphy. 

30. Xovesium. A town of the Ubii in Belgic Gaul, not far from 
Bonn and the Rhine, now Nuys. It derived its name from the Nova 
Castra of the Romans. Cf. Vetera, 18, supra. 

31. Additus .... curarum, i. e. he was associated with Vocula 
in the command by Hordeonius, the governor of the province. 

3 2. Gelduba was near Novesium, now Gelb. 

34. Meditamentis (preparations) is post- Augustan. 
1Q1 Ch. XXVII. — 6. Q,uod .... verterat refers, not to victi, but to 
culpabant . 

lO. Ilium refers to Hordeonius at a distance ; hunc to Herennius 
Gallus, who was on the spot. 

16. (iuisque. For its position, cf. Gr. 279, 14 ; Z. 800. For pi. 
pred. (prom), cf. Gr. 209, R. 11, (4) ; Z. 367. 

Cn. XXVIII. — 22. Alia manu. Sic MSS. et editiones omnes 
ante Bipontinos et Oberiinum, qui ediderunt aliam manum. Wr. It 
is a marked case of enallage. Ciriiis niccs orders (to his subordi- 
nates) that the Ubii and Trcvcri be laid waste, each country by the 
troops that happened to be nearest to it, and thai with another divi- 
sion they cross the Meust and haras* the Menapii, etc. 

23. Morinos et extrema. Cf. Virg. Aen. 8, 727: extremique 
hominum Morini. They dwelt by the British Channel. — Utrobique. 
On both sides, i. e. in botli the above expeditions. 

25. Romanorum nomen. In appos. with Agrippinenses, so 
called from the empress Agrippina (the Younger), who was born there 
and sent thither a colony. Ann. 12, 27. Al. nomine. But cf. G. 6: 
id ipsum (nomen) vocantur. It is a Greek construction. Cf. Essay, 
p. 23. 

26. Marcoduro. Now Duren. 

2T. duia .... aberant. Their distance from the German fron- 
tier made them feel secure. 

31. Obsidiuni legion um, sc. at Vetera, 22. 23, supra. 
182 ^ H * XXIX. — 1. Q,uippe .... vana gives the reason for inani. 

6. Unde .... acciderat. From whatever direction a shout 
happened to have proceeded, in that direction they turn their bodies 
and draw their bows. The propriety of arcus here has been much 
disputed, but with little reason. 

12. Propellere .... sequi. They thrust them back with the 
shield, and then follow them up (and transfix them) with the lance. 
For the position of umbone and pilo, cf. Gr. 279, 5 ; Z. 798. 

Ch. XXX. — 15. Eduxerant. Cf. note, 2, 34: in extremam . . . 
educta. — Turrim. See the description of moveable towers, Die. Antiq. 



book iv. 399 

Page 

sub voce ; also Man. P. 3, 299, 4. — Duplici tabulato. With two 1 go 
floors or stories. Towers were oftener 10, 15 or 20 stories. 

16. Praetoriae portae. Every Roman camp had four gates, one 
on each side, of which the front gate was called the praetorian. Cf. 
Man. P. 3, 297 ; Die. Antiq., castra. 

21. Suspensum .... niachmamentum. Describitur hie tolle- 
non, de quo vid. Veget. 4, 21 ; Liv. 38, 5. Wr. The old-fashioned 
well-sweep is a rude illustration of the principle of the tollenon, though 
the sweep must of course have had a horizontal as well as* a vertical 
motion. Archimedes employed a similar machine against the Roman 
fleet. Liv. 24, 34. 

22. Praeter .... rapti. One or more at a time (observe the 
force of the distributive, singuli) being caught up and borne aloft in 
the face of (lit. past, praeter = itapa) their co?nrades, etc. 

Ch. XXXI. — 28. Caecinae edieto. Csecina was consul (cf.2, 71, 
and note there), and probably issued an edict for submission to Vespasian. 
— Alpinus Montanus. Cf. 3,35. — 3 3. Adigente. Administering it. 

3-4: • Dixit. Said it, as a necessary form, without looks or feel- 
ings to correspond fjwn vultu, etc.). 

3 5. Conciperent. Repeated. Concipere verba is a technic both 
for drawing up and taking up a form of words. 

Ch. XXXII. — 1. Tanquam ad, etc., i. e. recognising Civilis Jg3 
as a friend of Vespasian, and regarding the German legions as enemies. 

5. Externa .... velaret. And not disguise hostility to the 
Roman empire under a false pretence of fighting for Vespasian. Cf. 
externa in the same sense, 1, 79 ; 3, 5. 

6. Satisfactum coeptis. His object was accomplished. 

lO. Xecem fratris, etc. Cf. 13. Necem is a violent death. 
Cf. note, 3, 68 : jus .... civium. 

15. Dominorum ingenia. And the like inventions of tyrants. 
Cf. ingenium in the same sense, 3, 28 ; 2, 71. Or. renders it caprices. 

19. Iidem erimus. We shall be as well off as we are now. 

Ch. XXXIII. — 23. Parte .... retenta, sc. to press the block- 
ade of Vetera. Vocula with his army was among the villages of the 
Gugemi. Cf. 26. 27.— 21. Asciburgii. Now Asburg. 

29. Subsignaiio milite. Cf. note, 1, 70. 

30. Auxilia, etc. The auxiliaries gathered hastily (confusedly) 
around the subsignani. 

31. Terga .... vcrtit, i. e. turn their backs to the enemy, and 
retreat towards their comrades. 

34. Sternebantur. Observe the force of the imperfect: were 
being overthrown. 

36. Vasconum. A people of Spain, at the base of the Pyrenees ; 
afterwards settled in Gascony in France, to which province they gave 
their name. Rup. — A Galba, sc. when proconsul in Spain. Cf. 1,49. 



400 NOTES, 

Page 

lftd ** Q- uis< l ue ^h superl. = omnes. Cf. Z. 710, b. 

5. Prima acie. In the first part of the battle. Cf. Gr. 205, 
R. 17. 

Ch. XXXIV. — 11. Vocula nee .... deiii = Vocula et primum 
. . et dein. 

1 2. Simul .... victusque. Was defeated as soon as he went 
out to battle. — 13. Castra movit. Marched. 

21. Simul . . . . intelligebatur, i. e. while the besieged could 
not doubt the testimony of the witness, given at the price of his life, 
they were confirmed in the belief that the Romans were victorious, by 
the sight of burning villages. — 23. Constitui sign a. To halt. 

25 • Certarent depends on jubet, ut being understood. 

36. Immane quantum. Cf. note, 3, 62. 

Jg5 Ch. XXXV. — 2. Corrupta malle. Justly suspected, on 

account of his frequent failures to profit by his victories (lit. on ac- 
count of victory so often spoiled), of preferring a protracted war. 

4. Impedimenta. Baggage-wagons and beasts of burden. 

7. Firmo, i. e. not yet having recovered from his fall, 34. 

8. Rursum. Again. 

14. Manentibus castris describes the state in which the 

cohorts found the camp at Gelduba, viz. the same 6tate in which it 
had been left, as described 26, supra. 

15. Non erat dubium, otc, gives the reason why Vocula 
strengthens his own troops by a detachment from the legions (now re- 
lieved from the siege by the retreat of Civilis), and goes to succor the 
cohorts and foragers. — 19. Indomitum. Ungovernable. 

Ch. XXXVI. — 25. Circumsedit, i. e. returns to the siege. Mon- 
boddo complains with some reason of the rapidity and abruptness of 
the narrative here. 

3T. Nisi .... evasisset. But he made his escape, &c. 
186 ^' Stipendia. Money to pay their wages. — Oraturos. To ask. 
Cf. Z. 639. 

Ch. XXXVII. — 3. Ipsi, i. e. the soldiers in distinction from the 
centurions spoken of at the close of the last section. 

6. Superiore exercitu. Cf. note, 1,9. The troops of Upper 
Germany seem to have favored Vespasian, and refused to act in con- 
cert with those of Lower Germany in their zeal for Vitellius. Yet 
(tamen, notwithstanding this refusal) the latter go forward and replace 
his images. 

11. L/iberandum .... obsidium. Structura contracta for libe- 
randum Magontiacum obsidio. Cf. Essay, p. 17. 

13. Satietate .... incruenti. Satiated with booty, yet not 
without bloodshed, as described in what follows: in via, etc. 

15. Q,uin et, etc. Commentators find it difficult to discover the 
connection here. May it not be this : Besides the success of the Ro- 



BOOK IV. 401 

Page 

mans in raising the siege of Magontiacum, and slaying many of the i oa 
enemy on their retreat, the Treveri also (quin et) constructed a breast- 
work (loricam) along their border, and fought strenuously against the 
common enemy (the Germans) for a season. 

17. Donee with subj. Cf. note, 1,35. 

Ch. XXXVIII. — 19. Consulatum. For the chronology, see ta- 
ble, p. 26. 

22. Descivisse, etc., depends on pavores, or on something implied 
in pavores, e. g. it being rumored that, etc. — L. Pisone. Cf. Ann. 
13,31; 15,18. 

24. Xaves. The ships that conveyed corn to Rome from Africa, 
the granary of the city. — Vulgus, sc. at Rome. Vulgus is subject of 
credebat, on which clausum, sc. esse, and retineri depend. Littus is 
the shore of Africa. 

28. Nee .... rumore. And not even the victors (the Flavians) 
being averse to the rumor. Al. ne victoribus quidem, etc. 

Ch. XXXIX. — 32. Praetor .... vocaverat. It was his duty 
in the absence of the consuls. Cf. note, 1, 47. 

33. Regibus. Those who had espoused the cause of Vespasian. 
Cf. 2, 81. 

36. Ejurante. Resigning, retiring from, sc. the city-preetorship. 

6. Majoribusque. T. imitates the poets in annexing que to the J87 
former of two words, connected by et. Cf. 1, 51 : seque et Gallias ; 
3, 63, et al. Que is omitted here in some copies. 

T. Fraterna imagine. The image (i. e. the rank and station) 
of his brother Piso, who was adopted by Galba. Cf. 1, 14. 

9. Adeo. Still more. 

18. Egesto has the clause quicquid turbidum for its subject, 
which with egesto forms an abl. abs. Cf. Z. 647 ; Gr. 257, R. 8. 

Ch. XL. — 22. Crebra . . . confusio. Frequent blushing. This 
seems at length to have become a settled redness of face, which pre- 
cluded a blush. Cf. note, A. 45 : rubor. This use of confusio is pe- 
culiar to T. 

23. Referente Caesare. It was the office of Domitian, as city 
praetor (cf. 39), in the absence of the consuls, to convene the senate 
and propose to them business. 

2T. Q,uique .... figerentque. And to examine and replace 
the brazen tablets of the laws which had fallen down through age. 
These tablets were affixed to the statues and the walls in the temples 
and the forum. 

28. Fastos .... exonerarent. To disburden the calendar de- 
filed by the adulation of the times, sc. with games and religious fes- 
tivals in honor of unworthy men, voted and registered especially in 
the days of Nero. To erase and annul these would of course reduce 
the public expenses (modum . . .facerent). Cf. Wr. in loc. 

34* 



402 NOTES. 

107 30. Redditur .... praetura. Cf. 39. — Postquam .... confu- 
gisse. Cf. 2, 85. 
3 2. Honor. The honor without the office. Or as Or. explains, 
he remained praetor extraordinarius or honorarius. — Repeti. Resumed. 
Cf. 10, supra, and notes ibid. 

35. Privatim, i. e. out of the senate, in private and social life. 
The particular fact in private life which shed lustre on the day, is 
mentioned in the next sentence, viz. that Musonius was honored and 
Demetrius disgraced, as they deserved to be. — Justum judicium. A 
just sentence or impeachment. Al. indicium. 

36. Explesse. To have accomplished or carried out. — Diversa 
fama, sc. erat, after which Demetrio is dative. Demetrius attended 
Thrasea in his last moments (Ann. 16, 35). Now the same man de- 
fends the prosecutor of Soranus : such was the consistency of a philos- 
opher by profession ! Brotier. 

Igg 2. Junius Mauricus. Cf. note, A. 45 : visus. Plin. Epis. 4, 22. 

Ch. XLI. — 6. Inclioantibus primoribus. On the motion of 
some of the leading members. Cf. note, 3, 37 : initium .... factum. 
— Concepit. Drew up. Cf. note, 31. 

T. Certatiin is antith. to ut rogabantur. The magistrates were 
innocent, and hence emulously volunteered to take the oath ; while 
the rest, some of whom were guilty, waited till called on for their 
assent. 

1 2. Probabant .... arguebant. The senate approved the re- 
ligious scruples, but censured the false swearing, for after all the 
change of phraseology, it was perjury still. Observe the order : the 
emphatic word (probabant) first, the contrasted words (religionem, 
perjurium) near each other. 

19. Scribonios fratres. Cf. Ann. 13, 48. The two Scribonii, 
whose names were Rufus and Proculus, wero put to death by Nero at 
the instigation of Pactius Africanus, a. u. c. 820. 

22. Vibium Crispum. Cf. note, 2, 10. 

Ch. XLII. — 26. Messala. Cf. note, 3, 9. — Senatoria aetate, 
i. e. 25. 

2T. Aquilio Regulo. A practised informer. Cf. Plin. Epis. 1, 5 ; 
2, 20 ; 4, 2 ; 6, 2 ; Mart. 2, 74. 

28. Crassorum. M. Crassus Camerinus, brother of Piso (1, 48), 
and Scribonianus Camerinus were accused by Regulus in the reign of 
Nero. Plin. Epis. 1, 5.—Orfiti. Cf. Ann. 12, 41 ; 16, 12. 

29. Spbnte ex senatus consulto, i. e. the accusation having been 
decreed in general by the senate was voluntarily prosecuted by Regu- 
lus. The reading is generally thought to be corrupt. 

30. Depellendi periculi. Cf. note, 25: usurpandi juris. 

3T. Appetitum .... caput, i. e. Regulus had bitten the lifeless 
head of Piso in malicious spite. 



BOOK IV. 403 

Page 

3. Reliquerat has for its subject all the following clauses of theioq 
sentence. — 5. Hiatu, in the sense of eager desire, is peculiar to T. 

7. Exfuiiere .... raptis. Torn from the dead body of the re- 
public. 

8. Consularibus spoliis. The spoils of consular men, sc. Cras- 
sus and Orfitus. — Septuagies .... saginatus. Pampered with seven 
millions of sesterces. Sestertio is abl. limiting saginatus, the word 
being constructed just as if it stood without the numeral. Cf. Diet. 
Antiq., Sestertius. 

13. Retinete, etc. A beautiful imitation of Cic. in Verr. 2, 31. 
Ernesti. 

15, Marcellum, sc. Eprius. Cf. chaps. 6. 7, supra. — Crispum 
sc. Vibius. Cf. 41. 

22. Sed .... mores. But examples last longer than characters 
or men. Hence let us establish a precedent for the punishment of in- 
formers, which, though not needed under such a prince as Vespasian, 
will live after he is dead. 

Ch. XLI1L— 29. Cluvius Rufus. Cf. note, 1, 8.—Perinde. No 
less, sc. than Marcellus, touching whose wealth and eloquence, c£ 
Dial, de Clar. Orat. 5. 8. 

30. Sub ]N"erone. Cluvius Rufus attended Nero in his musical 
itinerations (Xiph. 63, 14 ; Suet. Ner. 21), but made no bad use of his 
influence. 

31. Crimiue. With his own guilt, as an informer, particularly 
in accusing Thrasea. Cf. 6, supra. — Exemploque, and the better ex- 
ample of Cluvius. 

34. Regua . . . Caesare. Observe the tact of the court-flatterer, 
by which he afterwards intrenched himself in the favor of Vespasian. 

Ch. XLIV. — 1. Proximo senatu. At the next meeting oftheJQQ 
senate, i. e. on the next day. 

6. Postquam .... itum. As soon as they met with opposition. 

9. Egressos exsilium. Cf. note, 3, 30 : altitudinem egressa. — 
Octavius .... interfecerat. Ad rem, cf. Ann. 13, 44. 

1 1. Sosianus exitiosus. Cf. Ann. 13,28 ; 14, 48. 49 ; 16, 

14. 21. 

13. Pulsi = expulsi. Cf. note, 1, 20: omnibus suspectis. 

Ch. XLV. — 20. Colonia Seiiiensi. A colony established by Au- 
gustus in Etruria, now Sienna in Tuscany. 

22. Supremorum imaginem. A mock funeral. 

2T. Cyreneiisibus. Dat. of the agent. At their instance or ac- 
cusation. — 28. Repetundarum. Cf. note, 1, 77. 

Ch. XLVL— 30. Dimissi congregati. Cf. 2, 67. 82. 

31. Lectus .... miles. Soldiers chosen out of the legions for 
this privilege (lit. hope, spem). Al. illectus. 

32. Promissa stipeudia, sc. of prcetorians. — Ne .... quidem. 



404 NOTES. 

Page 

-iqa Not even the Vitellians, i. e. the praetorians of Vitellius, who were a 

third class of competitors for the same office. 

33. Pelli. Dismissed. Cf. note, 1, 20: omnibus suspectis. — 
Ferebatur. A lacuna in the Medicean MS. makes the reading here 
doubtful. — 35. Stipendia. Services. Cf. note, 3, 75. 

3T. Q,uos .... menioravimus. Cf. 2, supra. 
^QJ 1. Intecto is post- Augustan. So is commanipulares below. 

4. Primus statim. The very first. Cf. note, A. 20 : statim. 
Statim here is antith. to ut vero. 

10» Cervicibus innecti. Poetice for cervices amplecti. 

17. Firmati jam. Non amplius trepidi, jam confirmato animo. 
Ruperti 

20. Q,uibus aetas. Those who were 50 years of age and had 
served 20 campaigns. Orelli. 

Ch. XLV1I. — 23. Uti videretur, i. e. that the new government 
might have the credit of finding the treasury exhausted and so of re- 
storing it. A policy not yet obsolete ! 

21. Sexcenties sestertium. Six hundred times a hundred thou- 
sand sesterces, i. e. sixty millions of sesterces. Sestertium is subject 
nom. of acciperetur. Cf. note, 42: septuagies, and 1, 20. 

27. Legem .... Domitiano. Cf. note, 40 : refer ente Caesare. 
— Consulatus .... dederat. Cf. 2, 71 : 3, 55. 

28. Censorium. Due to a censor. — Flavio Sabino. Brother of 
Vespasian, slain by the Vitellians, 3, 74. 

29. Instabilis fortunae. Compare the insults heaped on his 
lifeless body (3, 74), with the honors now paid to it. 

Ch. XLVIIL— 31. L- Piso. Cf. 38, and note, ibid.— Proconsul. 
Al. pro consule. Cf. note, 1, 49. 

3 2. Verissime here means faithfully and fully. Non opponitur 
mendacio. Wr. — Si .... repetiero. After having gone back and 
stated a few prior circumstances. Cf. note, 1, 4: repetendum. — Supra 
= superiora. Cf. note, 1, 65 : invicem. 

33. Talium facinorum = talis facinor is by enallage of number. 
Wr. — 34:. Finibus. Dat. of the end after auxilia. 

36. M. Silanum. Father-in-law of Caligula, by whom he was 
put to death. Cf. note, A. 4. 

38. Duos, sc. the proconsul and the legate. — Beneficiorum. Of- 
fices in their gift- So Liv. 9, 30 : consulum beneficia = offices in 
the gift (not of the people, but) of the consuls. 
192 ^' E)i u turiiitate officii. The office of proconsul was annual, like 
the original tenure of the consulship, while that of the legate might 
continue from year to year. 

3. Minoribus, sc. the legates, who were of lower rank than the 
proconsuls. 

Ch. XLIX.— 6. Valerius Festus. Cf. 2, 98 ; Plin. Epis. 3, 7, 12. 



BOOK IV. 405 

Page 

8. Afliiiitate .... anxius. His relationship to Vitellius made-iq^ 
him the more anxious to avert the displeasure of Vespasian by such 
services as the death of Piso. 

12. Alienato erga. Alienated in respect to. We say from. 

15. Suspecto. Lit. and to him suspected in peace, war more 
safe, sc. than peace itself. Al. suspecta. 

16, Alae Petrinae. Cf. note, 1, 70. 
19. Galerianum. Cf. 11, and note, ibid. 

24:. Continuare. Lit. prolongs all things favorable, i. e. proclaims 
every thing still favorable, in opposition to the adverse rumors that 
had gone abroad. 

Ch. L. — 1. Consternatio. Confusion, disorder. 293 

lO. Bebius Massa. Afterwards an infamous informer. Cf. note, 
A. 45. Hence what follows : jam tunc .... rediturus. 

13. Festus .... coiitendit. From Adrumetum, where he had 
stopped to watch the issue from a place near by, Festus proceeds 
rapidly to the legion. Observe the force of sub in substiterat = had 
stood near, and of con in contendit : stretches all his energies at once 
towards. Al. tendit. Adrumetum was* a Phoenician colony in Africa. 

18. Oensium L<eptitauoruinque. The people of Oea and 
Leptis, two large towns between the Syrtes, now Tripoli and Lebeda. 

21* Garaniantas. A people of the interior of Africa, little known, 
mentioned however, Ann. 3, 74 ; 4, 23 ; Plin. N. H. 5, 5, etc. 

26. Mapaliuni is a Punic word : huts or hamlets of the Africans. 

Ch. LI. — 27. Vespasiano. Vespasian was tarrying at Alexan- 
dria. Cf. 2, 82; 3,48; 4,81. 

29. Aggressi. Adventuring upon. 

30. Vologesi. Cf. note, 1, 40, where the ace. occurs after the 
form of the third declension (one among many examples of our author's 
fondness for variety). 

3 2. Ainbiri. To be solicited by, to have urged upon his accept- 
ance. Cf. note, G. 18. 

Ch. LII. — 1. Titum .... dicebatur. Titus dicebatur is the JQ^. 
usual construction in the early Latin. Cf. note, 1, 50 : crederetur, 
and G. 33 : narratur. 

3. Integrumque, etc. Enallage for et ut integrum . . . praestaret. 
Integrum. Unprejudiced (lit. untouched, entire). Cf. 1, 16 : judi- 
cium integrum. 

11. Pietate. Fraternal affection. Dom. rewarded Titus for it 
by hatred, perhaps by poison. 

15. Nutabat. Was balancing, as it were, on a pivot. Compare 
with this Vespasian's original plan of starving the city to submission, 
if necessary, by cutting off supplies from Egypt and Africa, 3, 7. 48, 
and notes ibid, on claustra annonae and et Africam. 

Ch. LIII. — 18. Restituendi. Rebuilding. The Capitol had 



406 NOTES. 

Paffe 

JQ^j been burned down in the civil war. Cf. 3, 71. The senate had voted 
the rebuilding, under the direction of Vespasian, chap. 9, supra. 
20. Contracti. Brought together from without, as well as within 
the city, particularly perhaps from Etruria, their mother country. — 
Haruspices. Cf. note, 1, 27. 

23. Serena luce. On a clear day, or icith an unclouded sun. 
25. Fausta nomina. Such as Faustus, Salvius, Longinus, etc. 

The Romans attached great importance to auspicious names on solemn 
occasions (cf. Cic. de Div. 1, 45, 102), as the Greeks did to auspicious 
words. 

•26. Patrimis matrimisque. Whose parents had been married 
by the solemn religious rite of confarreatio = confarreatis parentibus 
genitos, Ann. 4, 16. Diet. Antiq. sub voce. Others understand by 
it: whose parents irerr living. 

28. Praeeunte, sc. verba sive formulam precationis. Rup. Cf. 
note, 1, 36: praeire. — Lust rata .... area, sc. by leading the victims 
(a pig, a sheep and a bull) around the area and then sacrificing them. 
Cf. note, 1, 87. 

29. Cespitem, i. e. an alffllr of turf. — Redditis. Offered. — Jovem 
.... Minervam. These were the Capitoline divinities. Cf. note, 1, 
86 : cell a Junonis. 

36. Stipes. Masses. 

3T. Primitiae. The first ores taken from the mines. — Ut gig- 
nuntur. In their native state. — Praedixere = praecepere. Cf. note, 
3, 6 : praedictum. 
\Qf) 1« Annuere depends on credita implied in creditum. Wr. Id is 
object of annuere and subject of defuisse creditum. 

Ch. LIV.— 15. Druidae. Touching the Druids, cf. Ann. 14, 30 ; 
Caes. B. G. 6, 13 ; Turner's Hist. Ang. Saxons, B. 1, chap. 5. 

16. Primores Galliarum. Intellige primores Galliarum in urbe 
praesentes et inde ab Othone missos, ut populares suos adversus Vitel- 
lium concitarent. Wr. 

Ch. LV. — 20. Flacci ... caedem. For the murder of Hordeo- 
nius, cf. 36, supra. For the order of the two names, cf. note, 18, supra. 

24. Illi, i. e. Classicus. Ipse also refers to the same, and intro- 
duces what he himself said of himself. — Origo = stock, ancestry. 

25. Hostis is pred. nom. after esse understood. It is a Greek 
construction and unusual in the Latin. Cf. Horn. II. 13, 54: 6's Arts 
hxcrai itais thai. Buttman's Gr. Gr. 179 ; Kfihner, 307, 4; Essay, p. 
18. It occurs rarely in the poets, e. g. Virg. Aen. 2, 377: sensit me- 
dios delapsus in hostes. Render, he himself boasted that, from his 
ancestry (by birth), he was more {magis understood as usual with T.) 
an enemy of the Roman people than an ally. 

26. Miscuere sese. Attached themselves to Civilis and Classi- 
cus. — Hie .... hie, instead of ille . . . hie. So Virg. Eel. 4, 56 ; Cic. 



BOOK IV. 407 

Page 

Epis. ad Div. 9, 16. Both are thus brought near, and, as it were, into 1 (\K 
the presence of the reader. Bach. 

27. Lingonus. So the best MSS. Al. Lingon But T. uses it 
as a heteroclite for the sake of variety. Boetticher. 

30. Corpore atque adulterio = corpore in adulterium. Roth. 

34. Attamen, i. e. notwithstanding the state was averse, still some 
of the people took part. Agrippinensis was the capital of the Ubii. 

3 8. Capi .... urbem. The city was on the very eve of being 
taken, sc. by the Flavian army. 

1. Distineri. Were kept away. Al. detineri. JQg 

2. Dispecturas. Would decide. 

Ch. LVI. — 4. Haec . . . probataque. See the impetuosity of the 
Gallic character ; so described by Caes. B. G. 3, 10, and characteristic 
of the French to this day. — Pariter = at the same time, i.e. no sooner 
said than approved. 

9. Ceterum vulgus. The rest, viz. the common soldiers. Es- 
say, p. 17. 

18. Q,uem . . • diximus, sc 18, supra. — Extra conventum. This 
may mean without the bounds of the confederacy, or without the lim- 
its of the judicial district. Cf. note, A. 9. Al. eonfmium, continen- 
tem, etc. 

Ch. LVII. — 33. Sacrovirum. Ann. 3, 40. 46. Sacrovir was a 
leader of the JEdui in a rebellion. — Vindicem. Cf. note, 1, 8. 

35. Melius, sc. than Galba and his successors, who had treated 
the Gauls too gently. 

3 7. Infracta tributa. The reduction of their tribute. Cf. 1, 8 : 
tributi levamento. — Induisse. Had excited, or inspired. 

2. Xovesium. Cf. note, 26, supra. JQ^ 

6. In externa verba, i. e. allegiance to a foreign or hostile nation. 
Boet. instances this use of externus, as peculiar to T. Cf. note, 32. 

Ch. LVIIL— 1 1. Pro me. Pro = de. Cf. note, A. 26. 

12. Hostium. So all the MSS. The common editions have 
honestam, a conjecture of Lip., to which Wr. objects that the very 
same death is called foedissimam in the next chapter. On the other 
hand, it is objected to hostium, that the evils arising from the enemy 
were not the only nor the chief evils by which Vocula was encompass- 
ed. Various other readings have been proposed, but hostium still 
stands in the best editions, though enclosed in brackets in several. 

3 2. Sane . . . displiceam. Sane = concedo et doleo. Ruperti. 
Al. sin. 

34. Toto .... orbe. Hence a monstrous prodigy, for only such 
would be so widely proclaimed. 

3T. Tutorin, i. e. Tutorine. Ne is the enclitic interrogative par- 
ticle. The most recent editions do not mark the elision by the apos- 
trophe. 



408 NOTES. 

Page 

This speech well illustrates the spirit of a Roman soldier, and breathes 
all the national pride and martial energy of the Roman people. 
198 Ch. LIX.— 15. Hereniiium, sc. Galium. Cf. 19. 26, etc. 

16. Numisium, sc. Rufum. Cf. 22, supra. — Sumptis . . . insig- 
nibus. Assuming the insignia of a Roman commander, sc. the fasces, 
lictors, etc. 

20. Altis ordinibus. Altis = primis. He made him first cen- 
turion. 

21. Flagitium navaverat. Praegnanter for operam in flagitio 
perpetrando navaverat. 

23. Agrippincnses. The inhabitants of this colony were opposed 
to the rebellion. Ct\ 55, supra. 

24. Superiorem .... ripam. The (Gallic) bank of the Upper 
Rhine. 

25. Pulso. Driven away, sc. in flight. 

27. Obscssos, sc. at Vetera. Cf. 18 and 35, supra. 

Ch. LX. — 35. Douec .... orantes. Observe the high standard 
of military duty, allowing no extremity of suffering to be an apology 
for surrender. 
J99 2. IiCves = stripped of all but clothes and armor. 

3. Germani, sc. of the party of Civilis. — Incautum agmen, sc. of 
the Roman captives. 

5. Perlugiunt. Fly for refuge. Al. profugiunt, which means 
flee away, and is less appropriate with retro in castra. 

Ch. LXL— 1 1. Barbaro voto. Cf. G. 31.— Post coepta 

arma limits propexum rutilatumque : his hair, which, in accordance 
with a vow common among barbarians, had been suffered to grow 
long and was stained red {rutilatum = reddened, rutilum = red) 
ever after the commencement of hostilities with the Romans. It was 
not uncommon for the Gauls and Britons to color their hair before en- 
tering battle. The custom of letting the hair and beard grow long, till 
they had slain an enemy or accomplished some act of vengeance, pre- 
vailed also among the Germans (cf. G. 31) and was imitated by Caesar 
himself (Suet. Caes. 67). 

15. Ceterum neque se, etc. A Gallic empire was a mere pre- 
tence on the part of Civilis in order to secure the co-operation of the 
Gauls. His real object was independence and supremacy for himself 
and his countrymen, the Batavians. 

IT. Possessione rerum. Supremacy. — Inclitus . . .potior. He 
had a distinguished reputation and superior power. — Fama is abl. 
limiting inclitus. 

19. Nationis limits virgo. Cf. 1, 11 : ejusdem nationis. 

20. More quo, etc. Cf. G. 8, where also Veleda is specified. 
That passage and this taken together show, that in the opinion of T. 
the Germans actually deemed some of their women divine, and did 



BOOK IV. 409 

Page 

not suppose they raised mortals to the rank of goddesses: nectanquam-inq 
facer ent deas. 

27. Q,uae .... sunt. These were still in the hands of the Ro- 
mans. — Vindonissae. Now Windisch in the canton of Berne, in 
Switzerland. 

Ch. LXII. — 3 2. Rubore et infamia. Hendiadys and enallage 
for rubentes infamia == blushing for shame. 

2. Revulsae = dereptae, 1, 41, where see note. — Inhonora = 200 
squalida ; opposed to the fulgentibus vexillis Gallorum. Post-Au- 
gustan. 

5. Debilior. This word usually means maimed or lame. Cf. 81, 
infra : debilitas. More disfigured and disabled in mind, sc. than in 
looks. 

13. Iziitium* Implying that he paid the full penalty afterwards. 
— Exsolvendae. Expiating, lit. paying ofl! 

Ch. LXIII. — 25. Disjecta instead of disjectio ejus,^the Latins 
using few abstract nouns. Cf. Gr. 274, R. 5 ; Z. 637, and notes supra, 
3 : servus affix us ; 1,1: conditam urbem, et al. 

Ch. LXIV. — 26. Discreta. Separated, sc. from the Ubii and 
Agrippinensis their capital. 

29. Corpus. Cf. note, G. 39. 

34r. Inermes. A special indignity to Germans, who did every 
thing armed. G. 13. 

35. Sub custode, sc. a Roman soldier. — Pretio. On condition of 
paying for the privilege. 

5. Lucem diemque = light of day, by hendiadys. Observe the 201 
author's extreme fondness for pairs of synonyms: lucem diemque, 
amicitia societasque, colloquia congressusque. 

8. Q,uibus valent. Cf. A. 21. 

10. Ex aequo agetis. Cf. note, A. 20. 

Ch. LXV. — 20. Deductis olim. The original Roman colonists. 

21. Provenere = e nobis nati sunt. The sense is post- Augustan. 

23. Vectigal et onera. Cf. note, G.29 : oneribus et collationibus. 

31. Ipsa . , . . turre, sc. erat, habitabat. — Edita is abl. agreeing 
with turre. 

Ch. LXVI. — 3. Aiisus . . . composito. Either under a sudden 202 
impulse or according 1o a preconcerted plan. 

8. Movebatur .... condebant. Observe the change of number, 
representing the emotion more as a common feeling, and the sheathing 
of their swords more as separate, individual acts. 

11. In fidem acceptos. Cf. note, 1, 37: in fidem acceperat. 
Ch. LXVII. — 14:. Projectis .... monumentis. Casting down 

the monuments of their alliance with the Romans, i. e. the columns 
or tablets on which the treaty was inscribed. Touching such monu-? 
ments, cf. Dion. Hal. 4, 26 ; Liv. 2, 33 ; 26, 24. 

35 



410 NOTES. 

Page 

nnn 15. Caesarem. He pretended to have sprung from Julius CaBsar. 

Cf. 55, supra. — 16. Sequanos. Cf. note, 1, 51. 

1 8. Melioribus. Rup. and Or. say = fortioribus. But rather = 
better, more faithful. 

24:. Suo loco reddemus, sc. in one of the lost books of this history. 
Ad rem, cf. Xiph. 63, 3 ; Plut. in Erot. 25. Sabinus and his wife lay 
concealed nine years in a subterranean tomb, where she bore him two 
children. They were at length discovered, brought to Rome and put 
to death by Vespasian. 

25 • Resipiscere. Began to recover their senses. An inceptive 
verb. 

26. Principibus. Taking the lead. — Remis. Hence the modern 
Rheims. 

Cii. LXVIII. — 29. In dctcrius. Cf. note, 1, 18: in majus. 

30. Ne .... duces. Lest the generals, although (or however) 
excellent.— Galium Annium. Cf. 1, 87; 2, 11. 23. 33, &c, in all 
which the name is Annius Gallus. Cf. note, 18: Flaccus Hordeo- 
nius. — 31. Petilium Cerialem. Cf. 3, 59, and note, ibid. 

33. Libidines hero refers to lust of power, rather than to his li- 
centiousness. Cf. spe . . . . properus and jl 'a grantem, below. See also 
his ambition, 39 and 51, supra. 
203 *• Utraque munia. Both of senator and commander of the prae- 
torian guards. It was usual in this ago to appoint only men of eques- 
trian rank to this office. — Assumuntur .... ambitionem. The men 
of distinction were obliged to follow in the train of Mucianus because 
he was jealous of leaving them behind, and others attached themselves 
to him voluntarily from ambitious motives. 

6. Accingebantur. Were preparing for the war, as we say were 
buckling on (lit. girding to, ad and cingere) their armor. Observe 
the middle sense. Cf. note, G. 39 : evolvuntur. 

8. Si ... . invasisset. If he should once enter the army and tako 
the command. 

11. Pemiinis .... Graio. Cf. note, 1, 61. 

Ch. LXIX. — 22. Sumi .... geri. See a similar passage, Sail. 
Jug. 54. Observe the juxtaposition of the contrasted words ignavis 
and strenuissimi. Cf. Gr. 279, 5 ; Z. 798. 

24r. Super caput. Near at hand, just ready to fall upon them. — 
Reverentia fideque. A sense of duty. 

25. Periculo ac metu. Fear of danger. 

29. Q,uod .... caput = quis belli dux? Rup. Quod is neuter 
to agree with caput. — Unde . . . peter etur = quis imperator in Gallia. 
Rightful authority (jus) and religious ceremonies (auspicia) were 
quite inseparable in the view of the Romans. Hence, in their writers, 
they are often- named together, e. g. Liv. 22, 1 : justum imperium et 
auspicium. Ernesti. 



BOOK IV. 411 

Page 

Ch. LXX. — T. Superiorem . . . ripam. The banks of the Up-OfM 

per Rhine. 

9. Vindonissa. From or by way of Vindonissa. — Sextilius Felix. 
Cf. 3, 5. 

10. Singularium. The meaning of this term is left wholly to 
conjecture. E. understands by it, troops in high rank, next to the 
praetorians, like extraordinarii or selecti = elite. Wr. horsemen fight- 
ing not in companies but as individuals, each for and by himself = 
fiovofidxovs. — 2T. Ut . . . . memoravimus. Cf. 62. 

31. Mediomatricos. Cf. note, 1, 63 : Divoduri. 
Ch. LXXI. — 1. Delectus .... habitos, i. e. the troops levied in 205 
Gaul. 

5. Recepta juventute. Having received back their young men, 
sc. the levies sent back by Cerialis. 

6. Facilius toleravere. They were better able to pay their tri- 
bute with the help of their young and able-bodied men. 

11. Ne .... faceret. Not to hazard a decisive battle. 

14. Tertiis castris. After three days' march. — Rigodulum. A 
town of the Treveri on the Moselle, now Rigol or Reol, near Treves. 

16. Insederat. Had taken possession of — Montibus aut Mosella, 
i. e. partly by the mountains and partly by the river. So G. 1 : metu 
aut montibus. 

19. Aciem .... erigeret. Cf. notes, 3, 71, and A. 18: erexit 
aciem. 

20. Q,uem . . . . juvari, sc. putabat, or dicebat. 

21. Dum .... praevehuntur. While they are passing by the 
missiles of the enemy, i. e. so long as they are exposed to them. Mis- 
silia, ace. after prae. So Wr. and Or. Rup. makes it nom. : while 
the missiles are flying past them. 

22. Ut .... manus. When they came to a close engagement. 
Cf. in manus, 76, infra; also the Greek, sis x ei ? as ^^ lv - Ad manus 
is more common. 

Ch. LXXII. — 2T. Eruendae. Utterly destroying. Poetice for 
evertendae. So Virg. Aen. 2, 611 : totamque ab sedibus urbem Eruit. 

30. E gremio Italiae. Hence particularly dear to the Romans. 
The colony of the Treveri, on the contrary, was on the confines of 
Germany. 

3 5. A metu. From, i. e. through fear. The Latins more com- 
monly omit the preposition. 

6. Q,ui .... poscebant. The victors asked pardon for their 206 
comrades. Al. quis, quia, quos, etc. etc But qui is found in all the 
MSS. and earliest editions, and it accords with the sympathizing 
spirit above ascribed to the victors (solantibus, etc.) to suppose, that 
they asked pardon for their erring and guilty comrades. — Vocem pre- 
cesque = loud entreaties by hendiadys. So with the other pairs : 



412 NOTES. 

Page 

o r\£ lacrimis ac silentio = silent tears; pudor ac dedecus = the shame 

of their disgrace ; periculum aut metus = the fear of danger. 

12. Ne .... objectaret. That no one should reproach his j % el- 
low-soldicrs icith their revolt or their (subsequent) calamities. 

This section, like 58 and 61 supra, shows the high sense of honor 
and duty which marked, and in a great measure made the Roman 
soldier. 

Ch. LXXIII. — 16. Neque ego unquam . . . et = ego et mm- 
quam . . . et. Cf. notes, G. 2 : nee . . . et, H. 1, 15 : neque ipse. 

IT. Armis affirm avi. / have demonstrated by arms, not by 
words. The address accordingly bespeaks the soldier, rather than the 
orator. 

20. Profliirato bcllo. Now the war is finished. 

22. Nulla cupidine. Is this said of the Romans! Compare 
the speech of C algae us, A. 30. 

25. Q,uot proeliis, etc. On the German wars, cf. G. 37 and 
notes ibid. 

26. Teutonesque. This word contains the element of the mod- 
ern name of the Germans, sc. Deutsche (D is pronounced like T). 
For the Teutonic war, cf. Veil. Putrrc. 2, 8. 12; Plut. Marius. 

29. Alius Ariovistus. A second Ariovistus. This is the name 
of a German conqueror of large portions of Gaul, who was himself de- 
feated by Julius Ca?sar. Cf. C'sus. B. G. 1, 31-52. 

3 7. Ut non for rjuin or qui non. Cf. Z. 539. 
207 ^ H - LXXIV. — 3. Id solum .... quo. We have imposed only 
that tribute, by which. 

6. Cetera .... sita sunt. Every thing else (except the neces- 
sary tributes) is held in common by the Romans and the Gauls. 

8. Laudatorum principum. Praiseworthy rulers. Ant. to 
saevi, sc. principes. In like manner procul agentibus is ant. to 
proximis. The design is to set forth the advantages of being gov- 
erned by the Romans at a distance, rather than by their own princes 
at home. See the same argument used by Sulla (Sal. Jug. 102) : in 
quo (sc. the distance of the Romans) ofFensae minimum, gratia par ac 
si prope adessemus. 

1 2. Sed neque .... et. Neque correl. to et, and = et non : in 
the first place, these are not perpetual, and in the next, they are coun- 
terbalanced by the better rulers that intervene. 

It. Q,nid aliud quam "Delia, etc. So Sallust represents the 
Roman empire under Julius Csssar as the universal bond of peace and 
safety, and Plutarch speaks of it as the anchor of a fluctuating world. 

19. Conipages liaec. This fabric, more exactly bond, enclosure, 

26. Composuit erexitque. Allayed their fears and revived (lit 
raised) their hopes. 

Ch. LXXV.— 2T. Tenebautur Treveri. The country of 



BOOK IV. 413 

Page 
the Treveri was occupied by the victorious army of Cerialis. ctf\rr 

Cf.72. 2U/ 

29. duanquam occultarent. Although they (the Ro- 
mans) were endeavoring to conceal the news. Al. nuntii. 

3 2. Si velit .... si mallet. Observe the change of tense. 
Ernesti proposes to make the reading conform. But the difference in 
the tense is designed to set forth a difference in the conception. Si 
velit implies a direct offer of the empire with the apparent expectation 
of its acceptance : if he will accept, etc. Si mallet expresses a more 
remote and less anticipated contingency : if he should prefer, etc. 
Cf. Gr. 261 ; Z. 524. So 20, supra : si . . . obsisteret = if no one 
should oppose them, a contingency which they could hardly antici- 
pate ; sin . . . occurrant = but if arms (battle) await them, as they 
suppose to be the fact. 

35. Ipsas epistolas. Asyndeton for ipsasque epistolas : he sent 
the bearer and the letters themselves. There is no force in the ipsas, 
if epistolas is connected with attulerat, as in the edition of Oberlin. 

3T. Passum jungi denotes the ground on which they censured 
Cerialis = for having suffered, etc. 

1. Intutis. Not fortified. 208 

Ch. LXXVI. — 3. Civilis, sc. censebat, affirmabat. The verb is 
expressed with Tutor below 

5. Gallos is placed before quid for emphasis : the Gauls alone, 
what would thpy be but a prey, etc. ? 

9. Accitas, sc. legiones. — Adventure, etc. Cf. 68. 

19. Veuturos in manus. Cf. note, 71 : ut . . . manus. 

20. Adolescentuli .... meditantis. Such as Valentinus. — 
Quam. Sub. magis. 

23. Precariam. Cf. note, G. 44 : precario. 

Ch. LXXVII. — 29. \iam inter. Cf. note, 2, 78 : Judaeam inter. 

33. Pcrrupta . . . castra. This and the following clauses are the 
items of the universa eludes which Cerialis saw. Hence they should 
not be separated from it by a period, as they are in many editions. 

T. Aut militum .... aut hostium. Flaccus and VoculahadOHQ 
fallen by the hands of their soldiers (36 and 59) ; Numisius and He- 
rennius by the enemy (70). 

Ch. LXXVIIL— 13. Consistunt. They rally (lit. stand together). 

1-1. Acies. A regular line of battle, ant. to cohories et manip- 
ulos. — Effuso hoste. Since the enemy were spread out on all sides. 
Cf. note, G. 30 : effusis. 

24r. Sed obstitit assigns the true reason for the defeat of the Gauls, 
in opposition to the reason which they alleged : ipsi . . ferebant, etc. 

Ch. LXXIX. — 3 2. Justae .... invocantium. Reasonable en- 
treaties of those invoking aid (lit. calling it in). 

33. Ad spem, etc. To the hope of victory or the purpose of 
35* 



414 NOTES. 

Page 

Qf)Q revenge. — Nmnque = Greek K ai yap. The que belongs to some 
clause that is to be supplied, thus : and they had reason to fear, etc., 
for Civilis also (el) was in motion as well as they. 

34. Intenderat, sc. animum, as in 1, 48, or oculos, as in 5, 17, 
= had directed his attention. The word means to increase in 1, 12, 
and to resolve (our intend) in 2, 22, at which places see notes. — Fla- 
grantissima . . . Integra is abl. abs., denoting the cause (Gr. 257) and 
limiting invalidus : he felt himself strong, notwithstanding his recent 
defeat, because his bravest (lit. most ardent) cohort was still left un- 
harmed. 

36. Tolbiaci. Now Zi'dpich, in the diocese of Cologne. 

3T. Avertit. Turned liim back, or away. 

38. Germanos, sc. Chaucos Frisiosque. 
210 ®* ^^ r0 est insuper. Wr. Immo, est spontc, non instincti a 
Civile Classicove aut injuria. Rup. and Or. 

Cii. LXXX.— 14. Obtendens. Alleging. Cf. note, 3, 36. 

IT. Adeo. Cf. note, 1,9. 

19. Averse AI. adverso. Although Antony was not received 
according to his expectations, yet neither was he met with coldness or 
aversion. 

22. Prioris vitae criminibus. Cf. 2, H6. 

23. Yocare = provocarc. Cf. note, G. 14: vocare hostem, and 
Virg. Geor. 4, 76. 

Ch. LXXXI — 28. Statos . . . dies. The proper season (lit. set 
days) for the summer winds. — Certa maris. Connect this with statos 
. . . dies by hendiadys, and render : when navigation is safe. — Multa 
miracula. T. relates only two with his usual cautious and incredu- 
lous spirit. See others in Suet. Vesp. 7 ; Xiph. 66, 8. 

31. Genua. Cf. note, 1, 66 : arma ... prensando. — Advolvitur 
= se advolvit. Cf. note, G. 39 : evolvuntur. 

32. Monitu Serapidis. In case of sickness, it was the custom 
of the common people, by the advice of the Egyptian priests, to ab- 
stain from food and lie in the temple of Serapis, stretched on the skins 
of victims slain at the altar. Hence the distempered visions of crazed 
imaginations, which were considered as light divine and prophecy. 
Brotier. 

3 3. Superstitionibus. Ad verbum, cf. note, 3, 58. As to the 
superstition of the Egyptians, cf. 1, 11, and note, ibid. 

35. Oris excremento. T. avoids the technical vulgar word 
saliva. Cf. Essay, p. 20. — Manum aeger. According to Suet. 
(Vesp. 7), it was a paralytic leg. The testimonies do not agree. 

36. Pede ac vestigio = the step or sole of his foot, by hen- 
diadys. Cf. 1, 66 : vestigia prensando, and note, ibid. 

2J*[ 2. Debilitas. Here disease in the hand, impotence. Cf. note, 
62, supra : debilior. 



BOOK IV. 415 

Page 

3. Medici* The physicians, the priests and the emperor were oil 
doubtless in collusion to impose upon the superstitious people, who were 
equally ready to be deluded. The miracles of Christ and his apostles, 
on the contrary, were wrought in the face of prejudice in the popular 
mind, and of envy and hatred on the part of all the leading men. 

8. Igitur. Cf. note, 1, 29, 

lO. Laeto . . . vultu, erecta . . . multitudine. These state- 
ments show how ready all parties were to believe the miracle. 

1 2. Utrunique .... pretiuni. The dynasty of Vespasian was 
no longer on the throne, so that the imperial favor could not now be 
the motive of the witnesses. But how was it when they first told the 
story, and for a long time afterwards ? That is the main question. 
The fact here stated only proves, that having once told the story, the 
witnesses still persisted in it Voltaire pronounces these the best au- 
thenticated miracles that are to be found in history, sacred or profane. 
Hume also adduces them with great confidence, as an offset against 
the Christian miracles. But look at the circumstances above adverted 
to, — the discrepancy in the written records — the conspiring interest of 
the emperor, the priests and the physicians to get up a miracle — the 
readiness of the people to believe it — and the motive of the original 
witnesses in the first place to tell the story, and then to persist in it. 
Moreover, the cases are expressly declared to have been such in their 
outward appearance, that a deception might easily have been practised. 
The language of T. (dedita super stitionibus gens, etc.) makes it more 
than doubtful whether he believed in any miracle, though he leaves no 
room to doubt some of the facts. On this subject, see Paley's Evi- 
dences, prop. 2, chap. 2. 

Ch. LXXXII. — 15. Sacram sedem, sc. Serapidis. 

IT. Intentusque numini. Consequently with his back towards 
the door. — Respexit pone tergum, i. e. quum . . . capturus auspicium 
. . . tandem se convertisset. Suet. Vesp. 7. 

18. E primoribus. Suetonius makes Basilides a freedman. 

24:. Ex nomine Basilidis, i. e. as prophetic of royal dignity or 
imperial power (jSaortAeo?, king). 

Ch. LXXXIIL— 26. Celebrata. Treated, handled. 

27. Antistites. Priests (pnestites) ; those who stand before or 
preside over religious rites. 

28. Q,ui .... primus, i. e. Ptolemy I. There were 13 Ptole- 
mies in the Macedonian line of Egyptian kings. Ptolemy III. is 
mentioned in the next section (quern tertia aetas tulit). 

38. E geiite Euinolpidarum. Of the family of the Eumol- 
pidae. Eumolpus was the founder of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Cf. 
Die. Ant., EvfxoXTTidai. 

1. Eleusine. From Eleusis, a town of Attica, near the right 01 2 
bank of the Cephissus at its mouth, where the Eleusinian Mysteries 



416 XOTES. 

9 \i) were celebrated, and from which they derive their name Now a 
mere pile of rubbish, bearing the name of Lefsina. 
4. Jovis Ditis. Pluto. According to Cic. de Nat. De. 2, 26, 
Dis = Dives, rich, as Gr. IMobruv from nXooros- According to oth- 
ers, = Gr. Ats. Zevg. — Namque. And with reason is it considered the 
temple of Pluto, for an image of Proserpine stands by the side of the 
image of the god. 

13. Pytliium .... adeant. And consult the oracle. 

14. Sors oraculi. Nam responsa plurimorum oraculorum per 
sortes (lots) dabantur. Rup. So also Freund explains it. But Dod. 
considers response to be the primitive meaning of sors (serere, epslv)- 
— Pairis sui. His (Apollo's) father, sc. Jupiter. More properly his 
uncle, if Jupiter Dis is Pluto. — 15. Sororis. Proserpine. 

Cn. LXXXIV. — IT. Allcgant. They send, sc. by the servants 
of Scydrothcmis. — Versus animi. Changeable in his feelings, want- 
ing in decision of character. The genitive of animus is used in this 
construction by t lie later, much more than by the earlier prose writers. 
Cf. Z. 437. Wr. makes versus = eversus, crazed. 

23. Dcstinata deo. The honors destined for the god. Or it 
may be, as Rup. suggests, for dcstinata a deo = the purposes of the 
god. 

26. Adversari regem. Al. aversari. Cf. note, 1,1: adverscris. 

28. Circumsedere is the inf. of circumsedeo. Al. circumsidere. 
— Major Jama. E. and Wr. make major = more wonderful : Or. 
= Jjctter attested. 

3 2. Rhacotis. A promontory and village, afterwards a part of 
Alexandria, overhanging the naval station. — Fuerat sacratum. The 
name of Serapis was therefore previously known in Egypt, and the 
image brought from Sinope now began to be worshipped under the 
ancient name. Wr. Cf. Die. Myth, and Biog., Serapis; also Man. 
P. 2, 96, 4. 

33. Advcctu. Importation. Cf. G. 9 : advectam religioncm* 
Advectus, as a subs., occurs only in T. Al. adventu. 

35. Q,uem tertia aetas, etc. Cf. note, 83 : qui ... primus. 

36. Eundem Pt olemaeum, i. e. Ptolemy III. or Euergetes. — 
Ex qua trnnsicrit, sc. to Alexandria. Memphis declined after the 
foundation of Alexandria. 

3T. Mempliim. The ancient capital of Egypt, situated at the 
apex of the Delta, whose magnificent ruins are so often visited by 
travellers ; now Gizeh, opposite Cairo. 

3 8. Columeii. Capital, our word column. 
213 *** Plurimi .... conjectant. Most conjecture from evident 
signs in the deity himself, or by indirect inference that the god is 
Pluto. 

£• Per ambages is ant. to insignibus . ~. manifesto* Observe 



BOOK V. 411 

Page 

the enallage. Cf. note, G. 15 : venatibus, per otium. See also Essay, 010 
p. 17. 

Ch. LXXXV.— 6. Rerum in Treveris. Cf. 69-78. 

T. Fides, In appos. with Valentinus. Cf. the same, 2, 5 ; also 
fiducia, 2, 4, and note, ibid. 

14. Decore is an adv. limiting inter venturum. 

16. In . . . verteretur. Were at stake, lit. turned on a critical 
point. — 18. Ipse. Domitian. 

Ch. LXXXVL— 21. Intelligebantur, sc. by Domitian. The 
real object of Mucianus is explained, 68, supra, viz. to keep Domitian 
from entering the army, where so ambitious and unprincipled a youth 
might do great mischief. — Pars .... deprehenderentur. It was the 
part of submission in him (Domitian) not to expose these arts, i.e. he 
chose to pursue a submissive course, and thus not appear to under- 
stand the motives of Mucianus. 

22. Ita Lugdunum ventum. Silius Ital. (3, 607) and Josephus 
(B. J. 7, 4, 2) give Domitian the credit of bringing this war to a 
close. They wrote under the Flavian dynasty. Cf. notes, 2, 80. 
3, 71. — 24. Praesenti. If present. 

25* Cogitatione. Secret counsel. 

3Q. In altitudineni conditus = in altitudinem animi, tanquam 
in latebram se condens simulando, tacendo. Bipontines. Retiring 
within the depths of his own spirit. See also Essay, p. 16. 

31. Studiumque literarum. Domitian is highly praised for his 
love of literature by Quintilian (10, 1), and by Sil. Ital. (3, 616). 
Suetonius (Dom. 2) agrees with Tacitus in ascribing it ail to 
affectation. 

33. Contra, sc. to what it really was. 



BOOK V. 

Ch. I. — 1. Principio limits delectus, not agebat. Titus was se- 214 
lected to complete the conquest of Judaea at the beginning of the 
year, as was stated in its proper place, 2, 82. 4, 51. — Turn qualifies 
agebat, and refers to the period now reached in the history = at this 
time. 

2> Privatis .... rebus. When both were private men. Al. 
praelatis. But see the same form of words in 3, 65. 

3. Certantibus .... studiis. The provinces and armies emu- 
lating each other in their zeal. 



418 NOTES. 

Page 

o-j a 4. Super fortunam. Non modo par, sed etiam superior fortuna 
imperatoria. Rup. Cf. 2, 1 : quantaecunque fortunae capax. 
5. Decorum. Elegant in person and manners. Cf. 2, 1 : decor 
oris cum quadam maj estate, said of Titus. Wr. takes it in the more 
general sense of propriety of conduct. 
215 *• Comitate et alloquiis = affability of address, by hendiadys- 
2. In opere. In the labor of the camp. Cf. 3, 10 : valli opus. 
— In agmine. In the fatigue of the march. — Incorrupto . . . honore. 
Without impairing the dignity of a commander. 
7. Agrippa, etc. For these kings, cf. notes, 2, 81. 

9. Multi is the subject of comitabantur. 

10. Occupandi .... vacuum. These words are exactly correl- 
ative in signification : the hope of gaining a prior hold on the favor 
of a prince whose affections were not yet preoccupied. 

Cn. II.— 16. Creta insula. We find mentioned (1 Sam. 30, 14, 
Ezek. 25, 16, Zeph. 2, 5) a nation, in the south of Palestine, called 
Crethim (Chercthites in the English version, in the Septuagint, Kprjrag, 
Cretans), who were probably connected with the inhabitants of Crete, 
and who were perhaps confounded with their Jewish neighbors by the 
authorities from which Tacitus drew. The supposition of a Cretan 
origin of the Jews may also have been confirmed by a similarity of 
customs between the two nations, e.g. abstaining from swine's flesh. — 
Norissima. Remotest. 

IT. Q,ua tempestate. Poetical for quo tempore. Cicero declares, 
however (De Or. 3, 38), that he should not hesitate to use the expres- 
sion in prose. — Satumus . . . pulsus. For the dethroning and banish- 
ment of Saturn by his son Jupiter, see Die. Myth, and Biog., Satur- 
nus ; Man. P. 2, 15, etc. Ad verbum pulsus, cf. note, 1, 20. 

20. Regnante Iside. Cf. Die. Myth, and Biog. ; also Man. P. 
2, 96. 2. — Exundantem. Lit. overflowing, to which answers exone- 
ratam, discharged ; the figure being drawn from a stream. Exun- 
dare is a post-Augustan word. 

24. Tradant. Al. tradunt. Cf. Gr. 264, 6 ; Z. 561.— Assyrios, 
etc. The tyro at the present day hardly need be informed, that this 
is the only tradition which accords at all with the facts, though there 
are circumstances giving plausibility to some of the others here re- 
corded by T. 

25. Proprias urbes. Cities of their own, ant. to parte Aegypti 
potitos. 

26. Propiora Syriae. The adjacent parts of Syria. Cf. 16, 
infra : propiora fluminis. 

2T. Clara is taken by Wr. and Rup. in the sense of clear, mani- 
fest, implying that this is the true origin. Others take it in the sense 
of illustrious. — Initio is in appos. with Solymos. — Carminibus Ho- 
meri. II. 6, 184. 204 ; Odys. 5, 283. 



BOOK V. 419 

Page 

28. Conditae .... fecisse. Gave to the city which they built nix 
the name Jerusalem, from their ewn name. Al. conditam urbem 
. . . nomine suo. — Hierosolymam. Al. Hierosolyma, ace. pi. Both 
forms are used. See Lexicon. But Hierosolymam, though less com- 
mon in T., stands here in nearly all the MSS. The plural form of 
this name, as of the names of Athens, Thebes, and many other 
places, seems to have originated in the incorporation of two or more 
adjacent towns or fortresses (in this case, Meant Moriah and Mount 
Zion) into one. For the true etymology of Hierosolyma, cf. Kitto's 
Bib. Cyclopaedia, and Rup. ad loc. 

It cannot but strike us, familiar as we are with the origin and his- 
tory of the Jews, as very singular that Tacitus should have contented 
himself with throwing together such a crude jumble of contradictory 
fables, instead of going to the original records, or consulting Jewish 
authorities, in all of which he would have found the same consistent 
and true, story. But it is important for us to bear in mind, in reading 
this or any other Roman history of the Jews, that they were a se- 
cluded and peculiar people ; that their neighbors consequently knew 
little of them, and were prejudiced against them ; and that at Rome 
especially, they were hated by the great for their insubordination, and 
despised by the learned for their superstition, bigotry and intolerance. 
It should also be remembered, that the same prejudice extended to the 
early Christians, who were regarded as a Jewish sect, and are often 
spoken of by Roman writers in the same terms of hatred and con- 
tempt as the Jews. See the famous passage in the Annals (15, 44), 
where T. calls Christianity an exitiabilis superstitio. Yet on both 
these subjects we find traces of the truth in nearly all our author's 
errors, and those errors need not destroy our confidence in his veracity 
as a historian, on subjects about which he was better informed and 
less prejudiced. Similar and even worse absurdities are found in the 
other Latin authors respecting the Jews, e. g. Justin, 36, 2, Juv. 
14, 96. seq., Martial, Diodorus, &c. Cf. Preliminary Remarks, p. 
236. 

Ch. III.— 30. Orta .... tabe. Justin (36, 2) speaks of this dis- 
ease and calls it scabiem et vitiliginem, i. e. the leprosy. T. as usual 
omits the common technical name. Cf. Essay, p. 20. We have here 
manifestly a corruption, and at the same time an indirect confirmation 
of the history of the plagues that attended the exodus of the Israelites 
from Egypt. Ex. 9. 

31. Q,uae foedaret. For the subj., cf. Gr. 264; Z. 558. 

— Hammonis oraculo. The original oracle of Amnion was in Lybia 
(where his worship originated), twelve days' journey west of Memphis. 
Cf. Plin. 5, 9. But the oracle here referred to was probably in Thebes, 
which was a city sacred to Ammon, and hence called in the scriptures, 
No- Ammon, the abode of Ammon. Cf. Nahum, 3, 8, in the Hebrew. 



420 NOTES, 

Page 

215 **^* ^ Ils ** s l°ci s » s <^ the wilderness or deserts of Arabia. — Per 

lacrimas = inter lacrimas. Wr. — Torpentibus. Sunk in inaction. 
3 7. Sed sibimet . , . pepulissent* The reading and the mean- 
ing of this difficult passage have been much disputed. It is particu- 
larly a question whether sibimet refers to Moses or to the exiles, and 
whether duci should be read in the dative or the ablative. Pepulis- 
sent is also referred by some to the past and by others to the future* 
Without dwelling on the reasons for it, the following is given as on 
the whole the most satisfactory version : but they should trust to him- 
self, a celestial leader, by whose aid first (the first offered them) they 
would soon avert their j/rescnt calamities. It will bo seen, that in 
this version pepulisscut is taken as the suhj. of the oratio obliqua used 
for the future perfect of the oratio recta, and that fut. perf. used for the 
simple fut for the sake of implying rapidity, i. e. in the oratio recta, it 
would be pcpuleritis. Cf, Z. f>Il and 496, 5. 

216 5# Conjectura . . . . soli. Led by inference from the grassy 
soil. 

8. Dicata. Al. dicata mat Dicata is nom. pi. neut. Cf. Gr. 
205, R. 2, (2) : X. 376, b. The clause is a concise expression for urbs 
condita et templnm dicatimi est, with the additional implication, how- 
ever, of the sacivdness of the city as well as ths temple. 

Cm. IV.— i). <iuo sibi .... firmaret. Rather to preserve them 
from the idolatry which the rest of the world practised. Put Deo in- 
stead of sibi here (as after credercnt in the previous section), and T~ 
will be quite correct. 

12. Effiidem animalis, sc. asini. Cf. 3. This charge of holding 
sacred the image of an ass is reiterated by very many classic writers. 
Cf. Rup. ad loc. It gained currency perhaps for no other reason so= 
much, as that it was a convenient topic of ridicule and satire on a de- 
spised people. T. expressly declares, in the very next section, that 
they allowed no images in their temple. The Bipontines explain 
away the contradiction by supposing that sacrare penetrali does not 
here mean to consecrate as an object of worship, but to preserve as a 
sacred memorial. But? It may not be amiss to observe, in this con- 
nection, that the ass was held in high esteem by the Jews, insomuch 
that kings and princes rode on asses and were forbidden to multiply 
horses. Deut. 17, 16; 2 Sam. 8, 4; Mat. 21, 5. — Errorem sitimque, 
i. e. sitim, qua errabundi cruciabantur, by hendiadys. Wr. 

13. Caeso ariete. While the ram is slain (sacrificed). 

I4r. In contiixneliam Hammonis. Amnion was represented and 
worshipped under the image of a ram's head (Herod. 2, 42), the 
original idea of the god being that of a protector and leader of the 
flocks. Cf. Diet. Mythol. and Biog., Ammon* 

15. Q,uia. Al. quern. — Apin. Apis was a sacred bull at Mem- 
phis, which received the highest honors as a god among the Egyptians. 



BOOK V. 421 

Page 

For the manner in which the animal was selected, served and wot- Olg 
shipped, cf. Diet, of Mythol. and Biog. sub voce. — Merito = culpa 
and causa. Dod. and Or. Al. memoria. 

16. Q,ua .... turpaverat. T. probably hits here upon a true 
reason, though not the only one, for the prohibition of swine's flesh to 
the Israelites. The eating of it exposes to the leprosy, that dreadful 
scourge of the East. The Levitical law was founded more in reason 
and the nature of things than is generally supposed. 

IT. Iiongam olim famem, Cf. 3. Olim here = an adj., 
former. 

18* Raptaruni .... detinetur. As a p-oof of their seizure of 
grain (to relieve their hunger), Jewish bread still continues to be un- 
leavened. This is true only of the bread used at the feast of the Pass- 
over. As to the thing signified by the unleavened bread, T. approxi- 
mates the truth. Cf. Ex. 12, 15, seq. ; Deut. 16, 3. Al. retinetur. 
Cf. Ann. 6, 23 : detinuisset. 

20. Q,uia .... tulerit. Cf. close of previous section. Laborum 
refers to their fatiguing journey. 

24:. De septem siderious. Of the seven planets. Al. e. But 
de has the better authority and is often used for e or ex. Cf. Cic. pro 
Flac. : quis de nostris hominibus. — Quis .... reguntur. A doc- 
trine taught by ancient philosophers, as also by modern astrologers. — 
Altissimo orbe feratur. Revolves in the highest orbit. So the Gr. 
(ptpofxai is used in the sense of revolve. The day of the Jewish sabbath 
was sacred to Saturn among the Greeks and Romans, and is even 
now called Saturday. 

26. Vim .... confidant* Exert their influence and 'perform 
their revolutions by the number seven. Some recondite astrological 
notion is concealed here. The number seven was a sacred number 
with the Jews, as also with many other nations. The principal MSS. 
instead of confidant read com?nearent, which Wr. retains and consid- 
ers to be used like the Greek optative. 

Ch. V. — 30. Pessimus . . . gerebant. This refers to those Jews 
and proselytes who dwelt in foreign lands ; for, though dispersed over 
the world, the Jews still retained their nationality, and annually sent 
contributions {tributa et stipes) to support the temple worship at Je- 
rusalem. Cf. Cic. pro Flac. 28 ; Joseph. B. J. 6, 6, 2. Patriis must 
of course refer to their adopted countries. 

31* Et quia, etc. Sub. praeterea auctae. And their wealth was 
still further increased, because among themselves they cherished an 
inflexible fidelity and lively (in prornptu = an adj.) compassion, but 
towards all other nations, hatred as if they were enemies. The pas- 
sage is pointed and read differently by different editors. We have 
given that of Or. and many others, which seems to make the con- 
nection more natural than any other. 

36 



422 NOTES. 

Page 

Ol a 34. Alienaruin = alien igenarum, the women of foreign nations. 
For the reason of this exclusiveness, see note, 4 : quo sibi, etc. 

35. Inter .... illicitum. But compare the precepts of the dec- 
alogue, Exod. 20, 14. 17; also the severe punishment of adulterers, 
Deut. 22, 13-29. — Circumcidere .... nosrantur. Yet we are by 
no means to understand, that circumcision was entirely peculiar to the 
Jews. It prevailed among the Egyptians, Ethiopians, Colchians, 
Arabs, Armenians and other oriental nations. Cf. Herod. 2, 36. 104 : 
Diod. 1, 28 ; Strab. lib. 17; Joseph. Ant. Jud. 8, 10; 12, 5. Its ex- 
tensive prevalence implies a physical reason for it, which doubtless 
exists in those warm climates. On this subject, see a good collection 
of facts and authorities in Kitto's Bib. Cyclop., art. Circumcision. 

36. Transgressi .... eoruni. Proselytes. 

31. Idem, sc. circumcision. — Quicquam .... imbuuutur. This 
verb usually and properly lakes an abl. after it But it is here followed 
hy an acc, as if a verb of leaching : nor arc they taught any thing. 

38. Parentea is the object of habere. 
91 n 2. Et nccare. Et = both, correl. to que, for both the clauses of 
this sentence stand related to the increase oi population and the desire 
of of&pring among the Jews. — Agnatie. Superfluous children, i. e. 
those born after there was already a sufficient number of heirs, which 
were put to death by the Romans. Cf. note, G. II). 

3. Animus .... actcrnos. So Medicean MS., Or. and Dod. Al. 
animas aeternas. — Proclio . . . pt remptorum. Those who fell in bat- 
tle or were put to death by their Greek and Roman oppressors were 
especially incited by the hope of immortality, e. g. the Maccabees and 
their followers. Cf. 2 Mac. 7. 9. 36. But those Jews who held the 
doctrine in respect to any, doubtless held it in respect to all. 

I. Corpora . . . Aegyptio. They bury their dead after the man- 
ner of the Egyptians, rather (mag is understood) than burn them. 
Burning w r as the custom of the Romans under the emperors and in 
the latter ages of the republic. The earlier Romans buried their dead. 
Both usages prevailed among the Greeks. Cf. Diet. Antiq., Funus. 
The Jews embalmed (like the Egyptians, though with less care) and 
buried. Cf. Gen. 50, 2. 26 ; John, 19, 39. 40 ; Kit. Bib. Cycl., Burial. 

5. Eademque . . . persuasio. And they have the same anxiety 
and firm belief touching the lower world, sc. as the Egyptians. 

6. Coelestium contra, sc. persuasio est. In respect to the gods, 
their belief is opposite to that of the Egyptians. For a similar use of 
contra, cf. 2, 97 : e x per imentum contra fuit. Wr. joins these words 
to the following, and governs coelestium by pleraque. 

7. Pleraque. Very many. Cf. note, 1, 39, and A. 1. — Animalia. 
Such as the bull of Memphis, the crocodile of Arsinoe, the ibis, the ich- 
neumon, etc. Cf. Juv. 15, 1, seq. ; Herod. 2, 40. — Effigies compositas. 
Images made up of the parts of different animals put together. Look 



book v. 423 

Page 

at the grotesque and monstrous figures in Egyptian sculpture andOI'T 
painting, and you will be at no loss to understand the force of effigies 
compositas. Cf. note on Hammonis, 4, supra. — Judaei mente, etc. 
Cf. G. 9 : sola revereniia, and note ibid. We have here a sublime 
idea of one great, supreme and governing Mind ; of one omnipotent, 
eternal God. It is astonishing that T. did not pause in deep reflection 
upon what he could so well describe. Murphy. Ad verba, cf. Essay, 
p. 17. 

lO. Imitabile. The common editions have mutabile. But that 
is included in interiturum. Cf. Wr. in loc. 

13. Sed quia. The force of quia extends to reperta, and the 
apodosis commences with Liberum. 

14. Hedera. The Jews had not so much as a name for ivy in 
their language. But they bore branches of willow and other trees at 
the feast of Tabernacles. Cf. Rup. in loc. — Vitisque aurea. A vine 
wrought in pure gold of a thousand talents' weight is mentioned by 
Josephus, as an ornament. Cf. Ant. J. 15, 11. — Templo for in ternplo. 
Cf. Essay, p. 12. 

15. Liberum Patrem. Properly the old Italian god of planting, 
particularly of the vine, though the name is often applied by the Ro- 
man poets to the Greek Bacchus, as it is here by T. The name is 
probably derived from liber are, Cf. Diet. Biog. and Mythol. Others 
derive it from libare. 

Ch. VI. — 19. Terra finesque = fines terrae. The boundaries 
of the country. 

20. Pboenices. The people put for the country, as Gallis, etc. 
G. 1. 

21. Septentrionem .... prospectant, sc. terra finesque, lit. the 
frontiers look towards the north for a great distance alongside of Syria, 
i. e. the northern frontier stretches for along distance on the confines 
of Syria. Cf. 3, 60 : locus late prospectans. Notice the etymology 
of septentrionem in the lexicon. 

23. Rari imbres. True of the summer. The winter is the rainy 
season in the East. 

24:. Palmetis. Dat. of possession after sunt understood. 

26. Pavent venae. A fiction of course. Till the present cen- 
tury, the East has always been to Europeans the land of romance. 

2T. Praecipuum .... erigit, sc. terra. Libanum is ace. after 
crigit. Cf. G. 27 : sepulcrum caespes erigit. The reader will ob- 
serve the highly poetical turn of expression in this, as also in many 
other phrases here, e. g. pavent venae, fidumque nivibus, Jordanem 
alit, volucres patitur, fugit cruorem. T. is very fond of poetical de- 
scriptions. Compare that of Britain, A. 10, and notes ibid. It may be 
attractive, but it is one of those dulcia vitia which should not be imitated. 
Far preferable is the simplicity of Caesar and the Greek historians. 



424 NOTES. 

Page 

01 n 29. Fidumque nivibus. Faithful to the snow, i. e. affording it 
a safe and permanent resting-place. — Idem, sc. Libanus. 

32. Sapore corruption In taste more offensive, sc. than the sea. 

33. Neque vento impellitur. Compare with this the following 
from the letters of Lieut. Lynch of the recent U. S. Exploring Expe- 
dition : " The boats, heavily laden, struggled sluggishly at first, but 
when the wind freshened to a gale, it seemed as if the bows, so dense 
was the water, were encountering the sledge-hammers of the Titans, 

instead of the opposing waves of an angry sea When we were 

near the shore, and while I was weighing the practicability of landing 
the boats through the surf, the wind suddenly ceased, and with it the 
sea rapidly fell, the ponderous quality of the water causing it to settle 
as soon as the agitating power had ceased. Within five minutes, there 
was a perfect calm, and the sea was unmoved even by undulation." 

31. Suetas . . . volucrcs. A pure fiction. — Incertae . . . ferunt. 
The waves, if wares they may be called, bear up things thrown upon 
them, as if placed on a solid struct arc, e. g. on a boat. Incertae, lit. 
of a doubtful nature, sc. because they exhibit so imperfectly the motion 
of waves, or the fluidity of water. The great specific gravity of the 
Dead Sea is well authenticated, and explains the remarkable buoyan- 
cy attributed to its waters. Cf. Robinson's Researches in Palestine, 
vol. ii. p. 213. 

35. Periti imperitique . . . perindc. The use of perinde with 
que as a connective between the things compared is peculiar to T. and 
writers of his age. Cf. Freund and Boet. Lex. Tac. 

36. Certo anni. In the autumn. — Bitumen. Hence the name 
of the lake, Asphaltites. Cf. Plin. N. H. 5, 16.— Egerit. It sends 
up, casts forth, from e and gcro. 

218 4# Sic vetercs auctores, e. g. Plin. N. H. 7, 13 ; 28, 23 ; Joseph. 
B. J. 4, 8- But how absurd, as T. fully perceived. 

Ch. VII. — lO. FuluiiMum jactu. The use of jactu here has 
been objected to, aud iciu and tactu have been substituted for it. But 
jactu is justified by the example of Cic. in Cat. 3, 8 ; de Div. 2, 18 ; 
Liv. 28, 27, et al. Ad rem, cf. Gen. 19, 24. 25. 

11. Vestigia, sc. of ruined cities. Strabo (16,2) and Josephus 
(4, 8, 4) both testify to the existence of these ruins. Sec the names 
of the five principal cities of the plain, Gen. 14,. 2. 

12. Nam cuncta, etc. For all the productions of the soil, wheth- 
er of spontaneous growth or cultivated by the hand of man, either 
in the state of herbage or of blossom, or when they have grown to 
maturity with their usual outward appearance, etc. Al. herbae 
tenues aut flores. 

14r. Atra . . . vanescunt. See a similar account in Joseph. B. J. 
4, 8, 4. Compare also the allusion to the vine of Sodom and the fruit 
of Gomorrah, Deut. 32, 32. The apples and grapes of Sodom are a 



book v. 425 

Pa ff e 

proverb among the Arabs to this day. Modern travellers find in thato jQ 
vicinity a plant or tree (the Solanum) whose fruit answers in many 
respects to the description of T. and other ancient writers, and bears 
the popular name of the grapes of Sodom. Cf. Robinson, ii. p. 236. 
472. — Ego. Inserted for emphasis, like our for my part. 

15. Sicut .... coucesserim, ita. While (though) / might ad- 
mit, etc. yet, etc. For concesserim, cf. note, G. 2: crediderim. 

16. Halitu lacus is emphatic, as its position shows, and it limits 
not only infici but corrumpi. — Injici. Poisoned, as it were, i. e. made 
unfruitful. It is by the exhalations of the lake that the soil is made 
unfruitful, and the surrounding (lit. poured over or lying above) at- 
mosphere rendered unwholesome, and for that reason the crops and 
fruits decay. 

18. Juxta = pariter. — Judaico mari. The Mediterranean. It 
was on this coast that the manufacture of glass was accidentally dis- 
covered by some mariners, who having a cargo of nitre used lumps 
of it for andirons, which being melted in connection with the sand 
formed glass. See the account of the discovery and a description of 
the country at the mouth of the Belus, corresponding with this of T., 
in Plin. N. H. 36, 65-67. 

SO. Excoquuutur is poetical. — Modicum. According to Pliny, 
half a mile ; according to Josephus (B. J. 1, 2, 10), only a hundred 
cubits. — Et = et tamen. — Egerentibus, sc. arenam. — Inexhaustum. 
Inexhaustible. Cf. G. 20: inexhausta pubertas ; Virg. Aen. 10, 174: 
inexhausta metalla. So invictus = invincible. 

Ch. VIII. — 22. Magna .... dispergitur. A large part of Ju- 
d<za is sprinkled over with villages. A more simple and usual mode 
of expression would have been : villages are scattered over a large part 
of Judaea. 

23. Genti caput. Al. gentis. Either is admissible. Genti in 
MS. Med. — Immensae .... templum. Touching this temple, which 
was built by Herod the Great, and which exceeded even Solomon's in 
magnificence, cf. Joseph. Ant. J. 15, 11, 1-7; B. J. 5, 5, 2-6; Kit. 
Bib. Cyclop., Temple ; John, 2, 20 : Forty and six years was this 
temple in building, i. e. in being completed. The principal part of the 
work was done in eight years. 

2\. Primis .... clausum, i. e. there were three distinct walls: 
the first enclosing the whole city, the second the palace, and the third 
or inmost the temple. Cf. 11 : alia intus moenia regiae circumjecta; 
and 12 : templum .... propriique muri. Observe the author's fond- 
ness for variety of expression, dein for secundis, adv. for adj. 

26. Arcebaiitur, sc. all, Jews as well as Gentiles. At the time 
this history was written, the temple had been destroyed. Hence the 
propriety of the past tense, for which Ernesti would substitute arcen- 
tur. The imp. here denotes customary past action. Compare with 

36* 



426 NOTES. 

Pa^e 

oi o this passage of T., Luke's account of the people praying without, while 
Zachariah went into the temple to burn incense (L. 1, 9. 10). — Assyr- 
ios penes. Observe the anastrophe, of which T. is peculiarly fond. 

2T. Despectissinia, etc. See remarks at close of notes, 2, supra, 
and Preliminary Remarks, p. 236. 

28. Macedones. Alexander and his successors, who reigned in 
Syria till its conquest by the Romans. — Praepotuere. Observe the 
force of the prae : before others, pre-eminently. — Rex Antiochus. An- 
tiochus Epiphanes, the cruel enemy and persecutor of the Jews, king 
of Syria, a. c. 176-164. 

31. Nam . . . . desciverat* This passage involves so serious a 
chronological difficulty, that the commentators resort to emendations 
of the text to effect a solution. Arsaces, the founder of the Parthian 
state, revolted from Antiochus II. almost a century before the war of 
Antiochus Epiphanes with the Jews. Wr., Or. and Dod. suppose that 
T. confounded the 1\vo Antiochi, and thus fell into an anachronism. 
Ernesii regards the passage as an interpolation. Brotier and Rup. 
suggest emendations. The Bipon tines understand by Arsaces, one of 
the successors of Arsaces I., for it became the family name. Cf. note, 
1, 40: Arsacidarum. This will remove the difficulty, if we may also 
take desrivcrdt in a sense applicable, not to the original revolt, but to 
the continued rebellion and war ; for that Antiochus Epiphanes was 
engaged in a war with the Parthians appears from the first and second 
Books of the Maccabees. 

3 2. Macedonians invalidis. The successors of Antiochus Epi- 
phanes were comparatively feeble sovereigns. — Nondum. Not yet. 
The Parthians afterwards got possession of Judaea. Cf. 9. 

33. Sibi .... imposuere. The Maccabees, having thrown off 
the yoke of Syria, at length made the high-priesthood hereditary in 
the Asmonaean family, and finally assumed the name of kings, and 
transmitted it together with the regal power (which they had long ex- 
ercised) to several generations. Kingly power, however, corrupted 
the truly virtuous and heroic character wmich originally belonged to 
the family, and they became for the most part monsters in crime and 
cruelty, and reigned only amid commotions till the Romans extended 
their conquests over Judosa. Cf. Joseph. B. J., B. 1. 
219 Ch. IX. — 1. Romanorum, Placed first in emphatic opposition to 
the Macedonians, Parthians, etc., spoken of in the last section. — Do- 
muit. a. u. c. 691 ; b. c. 63. Pompey was invited to Jerusalem by 
the rival claimants of the kingdom. 

2. Templum, etc. He entered not only the outer temple, but the 
holy of holies, abstaining however from plunder and content with im- 
posing an annual tribute. Cf. Joseph. Ant. J. 14, 4 ; Flor. 3, 5 ; Cic. 
pro Flac. 28. 

3. Nulla .... effigie. Al. nullas effigies. Ad rem, cf. 5: nulla 



BOOK v. 42 7 

Page 

simulacra . . . templis sinunt ; and note, 4: effigiem animalis. — ^-OlQ 
dem, sc. dei. The seat or throne, which in Greek and Roman temples 
was occupied by the image of the god. — Arcana = penetralia. It 
suggests, however, a little more of the idea of secrecy and mystery. 

5. Provinciae, sc. Orientis, Judaea and the neighboring provinces. 
These fell to Antony in the division of the Roman empire between the 
Triumviri — Octavius, Antony and Lepidus, b. c. 36. 

6. Rex Parthorum. Cf. note, 2, 25: rex Epiphanes. — Inter- 
fectus .... Ventidio. Cf. notes, G. 37: amisso .... Pacoro, and 
Ventidium ; also, Ant. J. 14, 13. 14. 15. 

T. Redacti is here used in its original sense : driven back. 

8. C. Sosius. Appointed to the command in Syria by Antony, 
b. c. 34. — -Herodi. Herod the Great was raised to the throne by An- 
tony and Octavius (then acting in concert), with the approbation of 
the senate, b. c. 40. 

9. Victor Augustus, i. e. having gained the victory over Antony 
in the battle of Actium. — Auxit. Enlarged its boundaries. Herod is 
said to have gained the favor of Augustus by magnanimously avowing 
and dwelling on the warmth of his attachment to Antony, and the 
great services he had rendered him. He had not, however, taken an 
immediate part in the civil war, being happily employed during that 
time by Antony in a war with the king of Arabia. Cf. Diet. Biog. 
and Mythol., Herodes. — Nihil .... Caesare. Without waiting for 
the sanction of Augustus. 

10. Simo quidam. A servant of Herod, not the Simon Bargio- 
ras mentioned in 12, infra, though Rup. confounds the two, and thus 
involves T. in a contradiction with other authorities touching the ex- 
ecution of that chief at Rome. Simon was a very common name 
among the Jews. 

11. Q,uiutilio Varo. Afterwards defeated and slain with his 
army in Germany. Cf. note, G. 37. — Obtinente Syriam. Governor 
of Syria. 

12. Tripartite Herod left his kingdom by will to his three sons 
— Archelaus, Antipas and Philip, and the will was confirmed by Au- 
gustus, though without the regal title. Joseph. Ant J. 17, 8-11. — Sub 
Tiberio quies. Cf. Ann. 2, 42. 

13. C. Caesare. Caligula. See the full account of this by Philo 
(Legatio ad Caium), who was sent on an embassy to divert the tyrant 
from his purpose ; also Joseph. Ant. J. 18, 8, 2-9. 

15. Regibus. The descendants of Herod. — Ad modicum redac- 
tis. Reduced to narrow limits. 

16. Judaeam provinciam. Judaea was united with Syria, as a 
Roman province, with Cesarea for the governor's residence. Cf. Ann: 
12, 23 ; Acts, 23, 23-4, and 25, 1. 4. 6.—Equitibus . . . permisit, i. e. 
he intrusted it to their government, with the title of Procurator. Cf. 



428 NOTES. 

Page 

01 Q 10: Florum procuratorem. Among the procurators, previous to the 

age of Claudius, was Pontius Pilate. Ann. 15, 44 ; Joseph. Ant. J. 

18, 3. 4 ; Matt. 27, etc. 

IT. Per omnem .... libidinem. We see in the character here 

given of Felix, a good reason why he trembled while Paul reasoned 

before him of justice, continence and a judgment to come (Acts, 24, 

25), as well as a striking illustration of the Apostle's boldness in thus 

indirectly arraigning his own judge. 

20. Progener. Grandson-in-law, sc. by marriage to his grand- 
daughter (nepte) Drusilla. The word is post-Augustan. — Claudius 
nepos. Claudius was son of Antonia, the daughter of Antony. 

Cai. X. — 21. Patientia. Submission. 

22. Procuratorem. Cf. note, 9 : cquitibus . . . permisit. Florus 
was a wicked and cruel governor. Cf. Joseph. Ant J. 20, 9. 10 ; Suet. 
Vesp.4. — II. Cestium Galium. Joseph. A. J. 20, 10 ; Suet. Vesp.4. 

21. Fato aut taedio. //* the course of nature or from weariness 
of life, i. e. by his own hand. 

25. Missu Neronis. Cf. 1, 10. — Fort una . . . ?ninistris. These 
are all the means of his succ 

27. llierosolymam. Cf. note, 2. Al. Hierosolyma. But in 
both these places, the best authorities have Hierosolymam. 

28. Civili bello, sc. of Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian. 

29. Pace .... parta. By the triumph of Vespasian's arms. — Et 
= etiam. The care of foreign affairs also, as well as Italian. 

30. Iras, sc. of Vespasian. — Cessissent, sc. to his authority. 

33. Hierosolymoriun. Here the pi. form occurs in all the MSS. 
T., with his usual fondness for variety, interchanges the two forms. 
Cf. note, 2. 

Ch. XI. — 35. Rebus secundis instead of si res secundao forent, 
to vary the expression from the ant. clause, si pellcrentur. 

3T. Ambigue certavit. Josephus says (B.J. 5,2), that Titus 
was almost routed and the tenth legion was driven from its camp. 
220 *• Proelia serebant. Joined battle. Cf. Essay, p. 17. Al. fe- 
rebant. 

5. Roma .... voluptatesque. Compare the character of Titus, 
as given, 2, 2. 

6. Morari videbantur. Those (treasures and pleasures) seemed 
to linger. 

T. Arduam situ. On the site of Jerusalem, cf. Joseph. 5, 4, 

1. 2 ; Jahivs ArchaBol. 23. 24 ; Kitto's Bib. Cyclop. 

8. Duos colles. Four in all, but two principal ones. Cf. note, 

2, supra : Hierosolymam, and places just cited. 

9. Obliqui . . . sinuati. Projecting outward or retiring inward. 
This was a common way of building walls among the Romans, for the 
reason which T. assigns. Cf. Veget. 4, 2. 



book v. 429 

Page 

11. Sexaginta pedes. Al. sexagenos, which however is an emeu- 99 A 
dation to correspond with centenos vicenosque. But T. prefers variety. 

13. Procul .... pares. Appearing of equal height (whether 
on higher or lower ground) to those who beheld them from a distance. 

14. Regiae. Built by Herod on Mount Zion. Cf. Joseph. Ant. 
J. I, 20, 7. — Turris. Arx potius dicenda quam turris. In ea enim 
atria, balneae, aulae ; ipsaque in augulis cincta quatuor aliis turribus. 
Brotier. 

Ch. XII. — 16. Proprii muri, sc. templo sunt: it has walls of its 
own, besides those which encompass the whole city. Cf. note, 8 : pri- 
mis .... clausum. — Lahore ad magnitudinem murorum, opere ad 
eorundem qualitatem et artem referendum est. Dod. 

18. Pons peremiis. Jerusalem has always been found to possess 
an inexhaustible supply of water for the most protracted siege, even 
when tfce besieging armies, as for instance that of the crusaders, have 
suffered intolerably from thirst. A mystery still overhangs the source 
of this supply. Large cisterns are known to exist. But " there is 
also good ground to believe, that there has also been from very ancient 
times an unfailing source of water derived by secret and subterranean 
channels from springs to the west of the town, and communicating by 
other subterraneous passages with the pool of Siloam and the fountain 
of the Virgin in the east of the town." Cf. Kitto's Cyclopaedia, art. 
Jerusalem, Waters of; Strab. Geog. 16, 2, 40. 

19. Cavati .... montes, i. e. the mountains, on which the city 
was built, were scooped out into subterranean Caverns. These were 
used for places of concealment, as well as for cisterns of water. Cf. 
Xiph. 66, 4 ; Ammian. Marcel. 19, 5, 4. Here as usual T. avoids the 
technical expression, specus subterranei. — Piscinae cisternaeque. Im- 
mense cisterns of great antiquity still exist within the area of the tem- 
ple, supplied partly by rain-water and partly by an aqueduct from 
Solomon's pools, and which of themselves would furnish a tolerable 
supply in case of a siege. Cf. Bib. Cyclop., art. Cisterns. See also 
for many interesting and instructive details on this whole subject, 
Robinson's Researches, vol. i. pp. 479-516, and Olin's Travels, vol. ii. 
pp. 168-181. 

25. Magna colluvie. A great conflux from the country, as 
well as from the cities already destroyed by the Romans. The siege 
of Titus took place at the time of the annual feast of the Passover, 
when all the adult male population were expected to go up to Jerusalem. 

21. Tres duces, etc. Cf. Joseph. B. J. 5, 1-6. 

28. Q,ueni Bargioram, i. e. son of Gioras. This clause 

stands after Joannes in the Medicean MS. and the earliest editions. It 
may perhaps have been written so by T. through ignorance. But that 
the surname belongs to Simon is evident from Joseph. B. J. 2, 23, and 
4,7. 



430 NOTES. 

Page 

220 ^ H * ^m* — **^* P r °digia. Ad verbum, cf. note, 1, 3. Ad rem, 
compare the fuller account of these prodigies in Josephus (B. J. 6, 5, 

3 ; 7, 31), and with both histories compare the predictions of Christ 
(Mat. 27, 45. 51 ; Luke, 23, 44. 45). The Roman and the Jewish 
historians both strikingly confirm the prophetic character and divine 
mission of the great Teacher, in whom neither of them believed. 

38. Superstitioni. See the etymology of the word in note, 3, 
58. It is commonly used by T. in a bad sense, as here. 

221 2* Exapertae . . . fores. These doors or gates were of brass, and 
could scarcely be opened by twenty men. Cf. Joseph. B. J. 6, 5, 3. 
Exapertae is found in no other classic writer. It appears in Jerome's 
confessions. 

3. Delubri. Probably from de and luo = the place of expiation* 
Freund. — Excedere deos. That the gods (the guardian divinities of 
the temple) were departing. Compare with this the Roman. custom 
of evoking the gods from the cities which they besieged. Plin. 
28,4. 

4r. In mctum trahebant. Construed as a ground, of fear, i. e. 
as ominous of evil. So Ann. 14, 32 : ad mctum trahebant. Trahere is 
used in the same sense in 3, 3. 

S« Antiquis .... Uteris, i. e. the books of the prophets, which 
are full of prophecies of the Messiah, and some of which, e. g. Daniel, 
fix with great definiteness the time of his coming (eo ipso tempore). 
The Jews understood these to promise a temporal deliverer and con- 
queror. Hence the universal expectation, that at this very time the 
East should become powerful, and persons proceeding from Judcea 
should become masters of the world. Language happily descriptive 
of the spiritual conquests of Christ and his apostles! Josephus and 
Suetonius use very similar language. B. J. 6, 5, 1 ; Suet. Vesp. 4. 

T. Q,uae ambages .... praedixerat. Which oracle was to be 
accomplished in Vespasian and Titus, who had command in the 
East, and thence marched to the sovereignty of Rome. Such an in- 
terpretation would be easily adopted by a Roman historian, especially 
one who had received favors from the Flavian dynasty (cf. 1, 1). It 
is even countenanced by Josephus, in compliment doubtless to the 
same princes. B. J. 6, 5, 1. Al. praedixerant. Ambages is used by 
other writers only in the pi. and the abl. sing. Cf. Ann. 6, 46. 

lO. Ne adversis .... mutabantur. Nor have they been by all 
the calamities that have befallen them through eighteen centuries of 
persecution. 

12. Sexcenta millia. Josephus (B. J. 6, 9, 3. 4) and Zonaras 
(6, 26) estimate the number who perished in and after the siege at 
eleven hundred thousand. Others make it still larger. Ernesti re- 
marks, that the number of the slain in battles and sieges is the most 
frequent subject of discrepancy in all hiscor) T . 



BOOK V. 431 

Page 

13, Plures quam pro numero, i. e. more than the fourth or fifth 901 
part, that are usually reckoned able to bear arms. 

15. Hanc adversus urbem. Hanc is put first, as the emphatic 
word: such was the city against which, etc. T. allows himself in 
such liberties oftener than most Latin authors. 

16. SuMta belli, lit. sudden modes of warfare. Cf. A. 37. Here 
it manifestly refers to carrying the city by storm, in contradistinction 
to the gradual approaches of a regular siege. The use of abnuere, in 
the sense of forbidding a thing, belongs to the later Latin, and is a 
favorite usage of T. Cf. Boet. Lex. Tac. 

The foregoing thirteen sections are all that remain of our author's 
history of the Jewish war. The major part of his entire Histories is 
lost (cf. Preliminary Remarks, p. 231), and, with the rest, his narra- 
tive of the destruction of Jerusalem, a tragic scene which T. must 
have described with great power — fit theme for such a master, as he 
was a master fully adequate to such a theme. 

Ch. XIV. — 21* Malam .... pugnam. The unsuccessful battle, 
or defeat, described 4, 77. 78 

23. Tutus loco. The security of the situation involves the first 
reason. Observe the varied grammatical construction, by which T. 
chooses to express the same logical relation. — Et ut . . . . animi. This 
clause assigns a second reason why Civilis encamped at Vetera (which 
he had previously taken and plundered, 4, 60). 

21:. Eodem. Old dat. used adverbially = to the same place. 

26. Post victoriam, sc. that gained by Cerialis and the 21st le- 
gion over Civilis. Cf. 4, 78. 

28. Arceftat. Hindered, sc. an engagement. Observe the au- 
thor's conciseness. 

29. Addiderat, i. e. had interposed as an additional obstacle to 
an engagement, over and above the natural wetness of the plains 
(camporum suopte ingenio humentium). — Molem = a dam of wood 
or stone ; agger, a dike of earth. Or. 

30. Ea .... fornia. Such was the nature of the country (lo- 
cality). — 33. Proceritas corporum. Cf. G. 4: magna corpora. 

Ch. XV. — 35. Ferocissimo cuique. Dat. of the agent = a fe- 
rocissimo quoque. Cf. notes, 1, 86 : auctoribus, and 3, 12 : Vespasiano. 

31. Arma, cqui. Notice the asyndeton. The arms were first 
dropped by the horsemen in their trepidation, and then they sunk to 
the bottom (haurirentur). 

1. Pedestri acie. A land fight in opposition to a naval battle 22fi 
(navali pugna). So pcdestris is often used by the best Latin authors, 
like ttc^oi, Tre^ofiaxia, etc., in Greek. 

6. Egredi paludem. Cf. note, 4, 44 : egressos exsilium. 

Ch. XVI. — IT. Propiora fluminis. The parts nearer the liver. 
Propior and proximus may be followed by the gen. in this sense. Cf 



432 NOTES. 

Page 

OOO 3, 42: proximo, litorum ; Ann. 3, 1: proximo, maris ; Sail. Jug. 48: 
fluminis propinqua loca ; Lucr. 4,339: propior caliginis aer. So 
Wr. Others take propior a fluminis to mean the parts of the river 
nearer the bank, where the Germans could fight to advantage (cf. 14), 
and whence they might annoy the flank of the Romans. So Freund 
seems to understand it. Vid. sub voce. Cf. note, 2 : propiora Syriae. 

19. Cerialis, sc. memorat. 

20. Ut . . . exciderent. Al. exscinderent. Wr., Dod. and many 
others place a colon after exciderent, and make it depend on a verb 
of entreaty or command understood. But such a verb is not appropri- 
ate to the previous clause ; and in such a case the ut would be omitted. 
Cf. 3, 5: celeraret ; 3, 10: injicerent ; 3, 68: retinerent, et passim. 

23. Q,uod roboris fuerit. This clause is in app. with Germanos. 
The Germans constituted all the real strength of Civilis. 

25. Propries .... legionibus. We learn from 4, 68, that the 
14th legion had been summoned from Britain ; the 6th from Spain, 
where it seems to have taken the lead in proclaiming Galba emperor 
(cf. 1,4); and the 2d was a recently enlisted legion — hence ilia pri- 
mum acip .... norn si<ju<i, etc. 

29. Pracvectus. Passing along the lines, before (prae) the le- 
gions. — Mo mis tendebal. As a sign of entreaty. Cf. 1, 36. 

Cn. XVII. — ;M. Silentem . . . aciem, i. e. he not only addressed his 
troops, as Cerialis had addressed the Romans, but they responded with 
shouts. Or. lta dicimus silens vel taciturn iter facere. Wr. — Locum, 
sc. Vetera. Cf. 14, and notes there. 
223 ^* ^ um • • • • impediunt. The general rule requires the subj. in 
such dependent clauses in the oratio obliqua. Cf. Gr. 266, 2 ; Z. 603« 
But when the dependent clause expresses a fact independent of the 
speaker's opinion, it is put in the ind. Gr. 266, 2, R. 5 ; Z. 603. 

5. Gnaros, in the passive sense (known to) is found only in T. — 
Rhenum .... deos. Probably Civilis means to speak of the Rhine as 
a divinity, and so it is represented on some ancient coins. See a sim- 
ilar appeal to the sun and stars, as divinities, by a German chief, in 
Ann. 13, 55, and Grote's note on the same, Hist. Greece, vol. i. p. 465. 
The word Rhein = a stream, in Celtic or old German. 

6. Capesserent. Subj. for the imp. of the oratio recta. Z. 603, c. 
9. Ita mos. Cf. G. 11. 

11. Xeque . . . . et. Correl. Our soldiers on the one hand not 
entering the marsh (cf. 14. 15, supra), and the Germans on the other 
4 assailing them (saxis glandibusque) to draw them off, sc. into the 
marsh. 

Ch. XVIII. — 16. Q,uani .... retulimus. Cf. 14, supra, where 
and in 15, see incidents similar to and illustrative of those here nar- 
rated. 

20. Terga .... promittens. Lit. promising him the rear of the 



book v. 433 

Pagfe 

enemy, i. e. to bring the cavalry upon their rear, if sent agreeably to 990 
his suggestion. Others take terga in the sense of flight, rout. 

21. Extremo paludis. Abl. of the way. Cf. 4, 15: Oceano ; 4, 
68: Alpibus. — 22. Ilia, sc. parte. 

2T. Institit, sc. fugientibus Germanis. 

Ch. XIX. — 29. Superiorem provinciam. Upper Germany. Cf 
note, 1,9: inferioris Germaniae. 

30. Gallo Aniiio. See 4, 68, and note, ibid. 

32. Oppidum Batavorum. These words have greatly perplexed 
the commentators. Some take oppidum to be a proper name ; others 
a common noun ; but what walled town is referred to, they cannot 
agree. Several editors, and Ukert in his Geography, adopt the reading 
oppida. 

33. Insulam. Formed by the mouths of the Rhine, and consti- 
tuting the chief territory of the Batavi. Cf. G. 29. 

35. Molem .... factam. Cf. Ann. 3, 53. 

38. Abacto amne, The river was drawn off by its steeper (prono 
alveo) and more natural channel on the Gallic side of the island, as 
soon as the dam on that side was broken down. — Insulam inter. Ob- 
serve the position of inter. Cf. notes, 2, 78 ; 4, 77. 

3. Senatores. We find a senate instituted among the Frisii. 224 
Ann. 11, 19. 

4:. Q,uem .... memoravimus, sc. 3, 35. There, however, Mon- 
tanus is said to have been sent into Germany, by which, if we under- 
stand Germany Cisrhenana or Belgica, which was properly a part of 
Gaul, there will be no real contradiction. Cf. note, 1,9: inferioris 
Germaniae. So Brot. and Wr. 

Ch. XX. — 8. Superfuit. Remained, sc. after the defeat of Civi- 
lis, as related in the foregoing section. 

9. Q,uadripartito, sc. exercitu. Cf. Ann. 13, 39. 

10. Arenaci, Bata.voduri, etc. Walled towns of the Batavians, 
whose exact position is so disputed, that we shall not attempt to iden- 
tify them. Cf. Rup., Or. and Ukert's and Walckenaer's Geog. of Gaul. 

13. Traherent. Compare with this imperf. the perf. invaserit, 
and note, 1, 24: dederit. 

14. Affbre and posse .... intercipi depend on fiducia, or some 
kindred word to be supplied. 

16. Obvenerant. Had been allotted. Cf. A. 6 : jurisdictio ob- 
venerat. — IT. Decumanorum. The soldiers of the 10th legion. 

18. Materiis. Wood for building, fortifying, etc. Wood, con- 
sidered as to its nature and substance, is lignum ; in reference to its 
uses, materia. Cf. Rams. Syn. 638. Wood intended expressly for 
burning, is also usually called lignum. 

21. Rumpere. So nearly all the editions. Wr., with most of the 
MSS. and earliest editions, reads irrumpere, which he takes in the 

37 



! 



434 NOTES. 

OOJ^ sense interrupt. But T. uses irrumpere in the sense of break in or 

rush into (cf. 3, 9 : stationes . . . irrumpit), and the ir- may easily 
have attached itself to rumpere by mistake from the last syllable of 
the previous word. 

Ch. XXL— 2T. Q,uem .... diximus, sc. 4, 70. Cf. also 2, 22. 

29. Versa fortuna is abl. abs. 

33. Ne turn quidem .... classis, etc. Not even at this time 
did the fleet, etc. The emphatic ne turn quidem has reference to a 
like failure of the fleet to do its duty in a former battle. Cf. 18. 

34:. Sed. But, i. e. notwithstanding their orders. — Et remiges, 
etc. Observe the attraction for et quod remiges, etc. = and the fact 
that the rowers, etc. Cf. Essay, p. 18. 

35. Sane. Indeed, or the fact is. 

3 7. Defuissent. Subj. after ubi = cum in the sense of although. 
Gr. 263, 5, R. 1 ; Z. 577. Notice the effect of the plup. : fortune fa- 
vored even, though skill had not been used. 

38. Paucos post dies, sc. as described in the next section. For 
this way of designating a definite time, cf. Gr. 253, R. 1. Zumpt (477) 
gives eight different modes of expressing the same time. 
225 ** Q- uan 9. uam • • • evasisset. Quanquam seldom with Cic, but 
usually with T., is followed by the subj. Z. 574, Note. Wr. says, 
that when followed by the subj. it denotes a closer causal connection, 
than when followed by the ind. Tamen is omitted in the beginning of 
the antith. clause, as it often is by T. 

Ch. XXII. — 3. Novesium. Cf. note, 4, 26. — Bonnam. Cf. note, 
4, 19. 

6. Germanis. Dat. for abl. with a, so often used by T. — Com- 
posuere. Planned, lit. put together. 

7. Prono .... rapti. Borne rapidly down the current of the 
stream. This is a frequent sense of rapio. — Vallum, sc. where the 
troops of Cerialis had encamped for the night, with the fleet moored 
at the bank near by. 

11. Utque .... silentio. Supply by zeugma some verb correl- 
ative to miscebant : And as they approached in silence in order to 
escape observation, so when the slaughter was begun, etc. 

13. Exciti. Awaked out of sleep. 

16. Praetoriam navem. The ship of the commander, praetor 
originally denoting any leader (prae-itor). 

IT. Abripiunt. They hurry it away, sc. from the fleet. Cf. 
notes, 2, 26. 36 ; 4, 27. Compare rapti above. 

20. Silere. Here, as usual, opposed to all noise. Tacere is op- 
posed to speech. 

21. Signo et vocibus. The sound of the trumpet and the 
watchwords, though some take them by hendiadys, as both relating 
to watchwords. — Se .... lapsos depends on excusabant. 



book v. 435 

22. Multa luce. In broad daylight. 295 

23. Luppia. A branch of the Rhine, now the Lippe in West- 
phalia. — Veledae. Cf. 4, 61, and note, ibid, on more, quo, etc. 

Ch. XXIII. — 24:. Incessit. Invades, seizes. Cf. 2, 63 : ubi 

formido incessisset. 

25. Complet. Furnishes with sailors and soldiers, mans. So in 
Greek, nXripovv vavg. Cf. Herod. 8, 43. — Quod .... agebantur. All 
his galleys with two banks of rowers, and those which were propelled 
by a single bank. This is referred to as a test passage, as to the 
meaning of biremes, triremes, etc. Cf. Ernesti and Rup. in loc. 

26. Triceuos. Observe the distributive force = three hundred 
men each. 

2T. Arm amenta. The rigging of these boats was similar to 
that of the Roman liburna. But the captured boats were fitted out 
in a unique manner, sagulis versicoloribus. — Captae lintres, sc. those 
taken from the Romans. Cf. 22 : captivis navibus. Al. aptae lintres. 
The reading of the whole sentence is doubtful and perplexed. 

28. Juvabantur, sc. in cursu. Rup. 

29. Velut aequoris, i. e. a sea-like expanse at the mouth of the 
river Meuse. 

3 2. Gallia for ex Gallia. Cf. Essay, p. 11. — Miraculo . . . metu. 
More in wonder than in fear, i. e. in wonder that Civilis should ven- 
ture on such an engagement. 

35. His. The latter, sc. Cerialis and his followers. — Illi. The 
former, sc. the partisans of Civilis. 

1. Intactos. Al. intactas. — Nota arte. According to a well-^^Q 
known policy, with a view to excite the jealousy of Civilis' followers, 
as if he must have some understanding with the Roman general. 
Hannibal pursued the same policy in reference to the estates of Fabius 
in Italy. Liv. 22, 23. — Flexu autumni. Near the close of autumn, 
lit. at its turning point. Cf. Cic. pro Cael. : flexu aetatis ; Ann. 1, 16 : 
flexo in vesperam die. 

5. Differebantur = dirimebantur, were separated, torn asunder. 
This is the primary meaning of differo. See Freund, sub voce. Cf. 
also Hor. Epod. 5, 99 : insepulta membra different lupi. Al. defere- 
bantur. 

Ch. XXIV. — 6. Potuisse .... Civilis. That the legions might 
at this time have been destroyed, and that the Germans wished it 
done, but were diverted from the purpose by a fraudulent device of 
his own, Civilis claimed should be set down to his credit. Cf. note, 
1, 71 : ultro imputavit. 

T. Neque abhorret vero. Nor is this irreconcilable with the 
truth. Observe the omission of a before vero. See the more common 
construction in 2, 2 : neque abhorrebat a Berenice. But in Ann. 1, 
54, we have abhorrebat studiis without a. 



436 NOTES. 

Page 

OOft lO. Veniam. Properly access (venio, cf. Freund, sub voce), favor, 

here pardon. — Veledam propinquosque. Veleda (cf. note, 22), and 
her connections, who served as internuntii numinis. Cf. 4, 65 : de- 
lectus e propinquis. 

12. Caesos Treveros. Cf. 4, 71. 72.—Receptos Ubios. The 
Ubii had been received back, i. e. had submitted and returned to their 
former friendly relation to the Romans. 

14. Exsulem . . . et extorrem. An exile and an outcast. These 
words have a similar etymology {extorris from ex-terra, exsul from 
ex-solum) and do not differ essentially in meaning. They are used 
together by T. for emphasis, and with his usual fondness for pairs of 
kindred words. Exsul denotes more frequently a legal banishment ; 
extorris a forcible expulsion. 

IT* Inde. On their side. Hinc. On his side, sc. that of Cerialis. 
Observe the pairs of substantives in these two clauses. The sense may 
be expressed by hendiadys thus: the guilt of injustice . . . the revenge 
of the gods ; though the connection in which they are placed by the 
author, is more lively and energetic. 

Cn. XXV.— 21. Q,uid profectum. Al. perfectum. Cf. A. 17: 
nihil profici ; A. 14: par um profici, etc. 

24. Armis for ad arma. So T. often ; earlier writers seldom. Cf. 
Essay, pp. 12. 13. 

26. Xon tributa .... indici. Cf. G. 29 : nee tributis contem- 
nuntur, etc. — Virtutem et viros. The valor of their men. Cf. note, 
24, at the close. 

29. Germaiiorum feminas. Such as Veleda, who were virtually 
their sovereigns, though not formally ; for a female sovereign was for 
the most part deemed a disgrace by the Germans. Cf. G. 8 and 45. 

30. Atrociora. Al. atrociore with rabie in the next clause. But 
then the comparative has no force. 

227 ^ H# XXVI. — 1. Nabaliae. This name occurs nowhere else, and 
it seems impossible to determine what river is meant. Brotier refers 
it to the channel made by Drusus from the Rhine to the Yssel, Walc- 
kenaer to the Yssel itself, etc. Cf. Ann. 2, 8. — Abrupta. Extremi- 
ties, where the bridge was broken off. 

2. Defenderer. Notice the middle sense. 

3. Debebatur. Imp. ind. for imp. subj. Cf. Gr. 259, R. 4; Z. 
519, b. 

4. Inimica, hostilia. Inimicus, qui nos odit, hostilis qui oppug- 
nat. Facciolati and Forcellini's Lexicon. 

1. Actus = incitatus. Al. accitus. 

The concluding sentence is incomplete. The much vaunted Gallic 
empire soon came to an end. The subsequent fortunes of Civilis are 
not known. But from the offers made him (cf. chap. 24), it is inferred 
that he received a full pardon. 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



A. 

Actium, B. 1, chap. 1, note. 

Addua, 2, 40. 

Adria, 3, 42, note. 

Adrumetum, 4, 50, note. 

Aedui, 1, 51, note. 64 ; 2, 61 ; 4, 17. 57. 

Aegialus, 1, 37, note. 

Aegyptus, 1, 11 ; 3, 8. 48, and notes, 

ibid. 
Aemilius Longinus, 4, 59. 62. 
Aemilius Pacensis, 1, 20. 87, note; 2, 

12 ; 3, 73. 
Aenus, 3, 5, note. 
Aesculapius, 4, 84. 
Africa, 1, 11. 73, note ; 3, 48, note. 
Agrippa, king of the Jews, 2, 81, note ; 

5, 1. 
Agrippa, M. Vipsanius, son-in-law of 

Augustus, 1, 15. 
Agrippinensis, 1, 56, note ; 4, 20. 25. 

28. 79. 
Albigaunum, 2, 15, note. 
Albium Intemelium, 2, 13, note. 
Alexandria, 1, 31 ; 2, 79 ; 3, 48 ; 4, 81. 

84. 
Alfenus Varus, 2, 29. 43 ; 3, 36. 55. 61 ; 

4, 11, note. 
Allia, 2, 91, note. 
Allieni Forum, 3, 6, note. 
Allobroges, 1, 66. 
Alpes, 1, 61, note ; Maritimae, 2, 12, 

note. 
Alpinus Montanus, 3, 35 ; 4, 31 ; 5, 19. 
Altinum, 3, 6, note. 
Anagnia, 3, 62, note. 
Anicetus, 3, 47. 48. 
Annius Bussus, 3, 50. 
Annius Faustus, 2, 10. 
Annius Gallus, 1, 87 ; 2, 23. 33. 44; 4, 

68 ; 5, 19. 
Antiochia, 2, 78, note. 80. 
Antiochus, king of Commagene, 2, 81, 

note ; 5, 1. 
Antiochus Epipkanes, king of Syria, 

5,8. • 

37* 



Antipolis, 2, 15, note. 
Antistius Sosianus, 4, 44. 
Antoninus, Arrius, 1, 77, note. 
Antonius Felix, 5, 9, note. 
Antonius Flamma, 4, 45. 
Antonius Naso, 1, 20. 
Antonius Novellus, 1, 87; 2, 12. 
Antonius Primus, 2, 86 ; 3, 2, seqq. 

4, 2. 4. 11. 80. 
Antonius Taurus, 1, 20. 
Apenninijuga, 3, 42. 50. 52. 55. 
Apinius Tiro, 3, 57. 76. 
Apis, 5, 4, note. 
Aponius Saturninus, 1, 79 ; 2, 85. 96 ; 

3, 5, note. 9. 11. 
Aponius Silius, 3, 10. 11. 
Apronianus Vipstanus, 1, 76. 
Aquae Helveticae, 1, 67, note. 
Aquileia, 2, 46, note. 85 ; 3, 6, note. 8. 
Aquilius Regulus, 4, 42, note. 
Aquinas, 1, 88, note : 2, 63. 
Aquitania, 1, 76, note. 
Arabes, 5, 1. 
Arar, 2, 59, note. 
Arenacum, 5, 20, note. 
Aricia, 4, 2, note. 
Aricinum nemus, 3, 36, note. 
Ariminum, 3, 41, note. 42. 
Ariovistus, 4, 73, note. 
Arrneni, 3, 24. 

Arrius Varus, 3, 16. 52. 61 ; 4, 4. 39. 68. 
Arruntius, L. 2, 65. 
Arsaces, 5, 8, note. 
Arsacidae, 1, 40, note. 
Arulenus Rusticus, 3, 80. 
Asciburgium, 4, 33, note. 
Asiaticm, 2, 94 ; 4, 11, note. 
Asinius Pollio, 2, 59. 
Asphaltites, 5, 6, note. 
Asprenas, L. 2, 9. 
Assyrii, 5, 2. 8. 
Asy/i Lucus, 3, 71, note. 
Ateste, 3, 6, note. 
Atria, 3, 12, note. 
Atticus, Quinctiu*, 2, 73. 74. 75. 



438 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



Aventicum, 1, 68, note. 
Aventinus, 3, 70. 85. 
Augusta Taurinorum, 2, 66, note. 
Augustodunum, 1, 51, note. 
Augustus, 1, 11. 15, note ; 3, 66; 5, 9, 
note. 

B. 

Baetica, 1, 53. 78, note. 

Barea Soranus, 4, 7. 10, notes. 

Bargioras, 5, 12, note. 

Basilides, 2, 78 ; 4, 82. 

Batavi, 1,59; 4, 12, note. 17. 21. 73; 

5, 25. 
Batavodurum, 5, It). 20, note. 
Bebius Massa, 4, 50, note. 
Bed rid cum, 2, 23, note. 39. 44. 49 ; 3, 

1.5. 20. 27. 31. 
Belgae, 4, 37. 70. 
Belgica, 1, 12, note. 
Belus, 5, 7, note. 
Berenice, 2, -2, note. 81. 
Berytus, 2,81, note. 
Bocchoris, 5,3. 
jBcm, 2, 61. 

Bound, 4, 19, note. 70. 77 ; 5, 22. 
Bouonid, --2, 53, note. 02. 67. 
Bovilldc, 2, 40 ; 4, 2, note. 
Brinno, i, 15, note. 
Britannia, 1. -J. !>. 
Brixcllum, 2, 33, note. 51. 54. 
Brixiana porta, 3. 27. 
Bructeri, 4, 21. 77 ; 5, 18. 
Brundisium, 2, 83, note. 
Brutus, L. 2, 6. 
Byzantium,^, 83 ; 3, 47. 

C. 

Cadius Rufus, 1, 77. 

Caecina, Alienus, 1, 52. 53.61. 67; 2, 

20. 30. 56. 99 ; 3, 8. 13 ; 4, 31. 
Caecina, Licinius, 2, 53. 
Caecina, Tuscus, 3, 38* 
C. Caesar Caligula, 3, 68, note ; 4, 

15 ; 5, 9, note. 
Caesar es, C. and L. 1, 15, note. 
Caesar ea, 2, 79, note. 
Calabria, 2, 83. 

Calpurnius Galerianus, 4, 11, note. 
Campania, 1, 2. 23 ; 3, 60. 63, note. 66. 
Caninius Rebilus, 3, 87. 
Canninefates, 4, 15. 19. 
Cappadocia, 1, 78. 
Capua, 3, 57 ; 4, 3. 



Caractacus, 3, 45, note. 

Carmelus, 2, 78, note. 

Carsulae, 3, 60, note. 

Carthago, 1, 70; 4, 49. 

Cartismandua, 3, 45, note. 

Caspiarum claustra, 1, 6, note. 

Cassius, C. 2, 6. 

Casiorum, 2, 24, note. 

Ctaft", 4, 37. 

Ce/er, P. 4, 10, note. 40. 

Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, 5, 2. 

Cerialis, Petilius, 3, 59, note. 78 ; 4, 

68, seqq. ; 5, 14, seqq. 
Chauci, 4, 79 ; 5, 19. 
Cilix Tamiras, 2, 3. 
Cimbri, 4, 73. 

Cingonius Varro> 1, 6, note. 37. 
Cinna,3, 51. 83. 
Cinyras, 2, 3, note. 
Civilis, Claudius Julius, 4,13, seqq. 

60. seqq. ; 5, 14, seqq. 
Classicus, 2, 14 ; 4, 57. 59. 79 ; 5, 19. 
Claudius Apollinaris, 3, 57. 76. 77. 
Claudius Julianus, 3, 76. 77. 
Claudius Labeo, 4, 18. 56. 66. 
Claudius, the Emperor, 5, 9. 
Clemens Arrctinus, 4, 68. 
Clemens Suedius, 1, 87 ; 2, 12. 
Clodius Macer, 1, 7, note. 37. 73; 2, 

97. 
Cluvius Rufus, 1, 8, note. 76; 2, 58. 

65 ; 3, 65 ; 4, 39. 43. 
Cocceius Proculus, 1, 24. 
Coelius Roscius, 1, 60. 
Coelius Sabinus, 1, 77. 
Coenus, 2, 54. 
Cahibus, 3, 48, note. 
Corbulo, 2, 76, note ; 3, 6, note. 
Corinthus, 2, 1. 
Cornelius, P. 3, 34. 
Cornelius Aquinus, 1, 7. 
Cornelius Fuscus, 2, 86 ; 3, 4. 12. 42. 

66 ; 4, 4. 
Cornelius Laco, 1, 6. 13. 19. 46. 
Cornelius Marcellus, 1, 37. 
Corsica, 2, 16. 

Crassus Scribonianus, 4, 39. 42, note. 
Crassus, M. father of Piso, 1, 14. 
Crassus, brother of Piso, 1,48; 4, 42, 

note. 
Cremera, 2, 91, note. 
Cremona, 2, 17, note. 22. 23; 3, 27. 

30-34. 
Creta, 5, 2, note. 
Crispina, 1, 47. 
Cnspinilla, Galvia, 1, 73, note,; 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



439 



Curtius lacus, 1, 41 ; 2, 55. 
Curtius Montanus, 4, 40. 42. 
Cyprus, 2, 2, note. 
Cythnus, 2, 8, note. 

D. 

2)aci, l, 2, note ; 3, 46 ; 4, 54. 
Valmatae, 1, 76 ; 2, 32. 86 ; 3, 12. 50. 
Decimus Pacarius, 2, 16. 
Demetrius, Cynicus, 4, 40. 
Dillius Vocula, 4, 24-37. 56-59. 
Divodurum, 1, 63, note. 
Dolabella, Cornelius, 1, 88, note ; 2, 63. 
Domitianus,3, 59. 69. 74. 86 ; 4, 2. 3. 

39. 51. 68. 86. 
Domitius Sabinus, 1, 31. 
Donatius Valens, 1, 56. 59. 
Druidae, 4, 54, note. 
Drusilla, grand-daughter of Antony 

and Cleopatra, 5, 9. 
JDrusus, stepson of Augustus, 5, 19. 
Ducennius Geminus, 1, 14. 
Dyrrhachium, 2, 83, note. 

E. 

Eleazar, leader of the Jews, 5, 12. 

Eleusis, 4, 83, note. 

Emeritenses, 1, 78, note. 

Epiphanes rex, 2, 25, note. 

Eporedia, 1, 70. 

Epponina, 4, 70. 

Eprius Marcellus, 2, 53. 95 ; 4, 6-8. 

43. and notes, ibid. 
Eumolpidae, 4, 83, note. 



Fabius Valens, 1, 7. 52. 57, seqq. ; 2, 

14. 27. 30. 34. 41. 55. 56. 59. 92. 95. 

99 ; 3, 40. 43. 62. 
Fanum Fortunae, 3, 50, note. 
Faustus Annius, 2, 10. 
Felix, vid. Antonius. 
Ferentium, 2, 50, note. 
Feronia, 3, 76, note. 
Fidenae, 3, 79. 
Flavianus, Titus Avipius, 2, 86 ; 3, 4. 

10 ; 5, 26. 
Florus, Gessius, 5, 10, note. 
Fonteius Capito, 1, 7, note. 37. 52 ; 3, 

62 ; 4, 13. 
Forojuliensis, 2, 14, note ; 3, 43. 
Forum Allieni, 3, 6, note. 
Frisii, 4, 15. 



Fundani lacus, 3, 69. 
Fuscus, vid. Cornelius. 



Galatia, 2, 9. 

Galba, Ser. consul, 1, l/*hote. 11; 
Princeps, 4. 5 ; his rigor, 5. 18. 35 ; 
cruelty, 6 ; indecision, 7 ; old age, 7 ; 
sends Vitellius into Lower Germany, 
9; adopts Piso and addresses him, 
14-16 ; despises omens, 18 ; sacrifices 
before the temple of Apollo, 27 ; his 
image dashed to the ground, 41 ; put 
to death, 41 ; his life and character, 
49 : his images stoned in Germany, 
55 ; borne around the temple, 2, 55 ; 
restored in all the cities, 3, 7 ; sum- 
mary of his reign, p. 237. 

Galeria, 2, 60. 64. 
! Galerius, 1, 90, note ; 2, 60, note. 
[Gallia, Lugdunensis, 1, 59; 2, 59 ; 
Narbonensis, 1, 48. 76, note. 87 ; 2, 
| 20, note. 28 ; 3, 42. 

Garamantes, 4, 50, note. 

Gelduba, 4, 26, note. 36. 

Gemoniae, 3, 74. 89. 

Germania, Inferior, 1, 9, note ; Supe- 
rior, 1, 9, note. 12. 53. 

Geta, 2, 72, note. 

Grinnes, 5, 20. 21. 

Griphus, Plotius, 3, 52 ; 4, 39. 

Gugerni, 4, 26 ; 5, 16. 18. 

H. 

Hadria, vid. Adria and Atria. 

Haemus, 2, 85. 

Hammon, 5, 3, note. 4, note. 

Hannibal, 4, 13, note. 

Hebraeae terrae, 5, 2. 

Helvetii, 1, 67. 68. 69. 

Helvidius Priscus, 2, 91 ; 4, 4-6. 43. 

53. 
Herculaneum and Pompeii destroyed, 

1, 2, note. 
Herculis Monoeci portus, 3, 42, note. 
Herennius Gallus, 4, 13. 19. 26. 27. 59. 

70. 77. 
Herodes, king of the Jews, 5, 9, note. 
Hierosolyma, 2, 10 ; 5, 1. 2, note. 8. 9. 

11. 
Hilar ius, 2, 65. 
Hispalienses, 1, 78, note. 
Hispaniae, 2, 32 ; 3, 53. 
Histria, 2, 72, note. 



440 



IKDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



Homerus, 5, 2. 

Hor alius Pulvillus, 3, 72, note. 

Hordeonius Flaccus, 1, 9, note. 54. 56 ; 

2, 57. 97 ; 4, 13. 18. 19. 27. 31. 36. 
Hormus, 3, 12. 28 ; 4, 39. 
Hostilia, 2.J00, note ; 3, 9. 14. 21. 40. 

I. 

Iazyges Sarmatae, 3, 5, note. 
Icelus, 1, 13, note. 33. 37. 46 ; 2, 95. 
Ida, 5, 2. 

Illyricum, 1, 2. 9. 76 ; 2, 86 ; 4, 3. 
Intemelium, 2, 13, note. 
Interamna, 2, 64, note ; 3, 61. 
Isis, 4, 84 ; 5, 2. 
Italicus, 3, 5, note. 21. 



Janiculum, 3, 51. 

Joannes, Bargioras, 5, 12, note. 

Jordanes, 5, 6. 

Juba, 2, 58, note. 

Judaea, 2, 79 ; 5, passim. 

Julius Briganticus, 2, 22; 4, 70; 5, 
21. 

Julius Caesar, 1, 42. 86; 3, 66. 68, 
note. 

Julius Civil is, 1, 59 ; same as Clau- 
dius Civilis. 

Julius Frontinus, 4, 39. 

Julius Fronto, 1, 20 ; 2, 26. 

Julius Priscus, 2, 92 ; 3, 55. 61 ; 4, 
11. 

Julius Sabinus, 4, 55. 67. 

Junius Blaesus, 1, 59 ; 2, 59 ; 3. 38, 
notes. 

Juno, 1, 86; 4, 53. 

Juppiter, 3, 74 ; 4, 83. 



Laco, vid. Cornelius Laco. 

Leptitani, 4, 50, note. 

Liber, 5, 5, note. 

Licinius Proculus, 1, 46. 82. 87 ; 2, 33. 

39. 44. 60. 
Ligures, 2, 14. 
Liguria, 2, 15. 
Lingones, 1, 53, note. 64. 78 ; 2, 27 ; 4, 

67. 69. 77. 
Luceria, 3, 86. 
Lucceius Albinus, 2, 58. 59. 
Lucilius Bassus, 2, 100 ; 3, 12. 36. 40 ; 

4,3. 



Lucus, 1, 66. 

Lugdunum, 1,51, note. 65, note; % 

65 ; 4, 85. 
Luppia, 5, 22, note. 
Lusitani, 1, 13, note. 70. 
Lutatia domus, 1, 15, note. 
Lutatius Catulus, 3, 72, note. 

M. 

Macedones, 5, 8, note. 
Magontiacum, 4, 15, note. 24. 25. 33. 

37. 59. 61. 70. 
Marcellus, adopted by Augustus, 1, 15. 
Marcodurum, 4, 28, note. 
Mariccus,^, 61. 
Marina Celsus, l, 14. 31. 39. 45. 71. 77. 

87. 90 ; 2, 23. 33. 60. 
Moriue Maturus, 2, 12 ; 3, 42. 43. 
Mar i us, C. 2, 38. 
Marsi, 3, 59, note. Cf. G. 2. 
Martial is, Cornelius, 3, 70. 73. 
Martius Macer, 2, 36. 71, note. 
Mattiaci, 4, 37. Cf. G. 29. 
Maurctaniae, 1, 11, note ; 2, 58. 
Medi, 5, 8. 

Mediolanum, 1, 70, note. 
Mediomatrici, 4, 70, note. 71. 
Mejitis, 3, 33, note. 
Memphis, 4, 84, note. 
Mc.napii, 4, 28. 
Messalla, Vipstanus, 3, 9, note. 11. 18. 

25, note. 28. 42. 
Mevania, 3, 55, note. 59. 
Mevius Pudens, 1, 24. 
Minerva, 4, 53. 
Minturnae, 3, 57, note. 
Misenum, 2, 9, note. 100 ; 3, 57, note, 

60. 
Moesia, 1, 76. 79 ; 2, 83; 3, 75. 
Monoeci portus, 3, 42. 
Mosa,fluvius, 4, 28. 66 ; 5, 23. 
Mosella, 4, 71. 77. 
Moyses, 5, 3. 4. 
Mucianus, Licinius, 1, 10. 76; 2, 5. 

76. 80. 82. 84. 95 ; 3, 8. 49. 53. 78 ; 4, 

4. 11. 39. 80. 85. 
Mulvius, pons, 1, 87 ; 2, 89 ; 3, 82. 
Mummius Lupercus, 4, 18. 22. 61. 
Musonius Rufus, 3, 81, note ; 4, 10. 40. 
Mutina, 1, 50, note ; 2, 52. 54. 

N. 

Nab alia, Jluvius, 5, 26, note. 
Narbonensis, 1, 76, note. 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



441 



Narnia, 3, 58, note, 60. 63. 77. 78. 

Nava^Jluvius, 4, 70. 

Nero^ 1, 20, notes ; 2, 95 ; 3, 62. 

Nerofalsus, 1, 2, note ; 2, 8. 

Nerva, 1,1, note. 

Nervii, 4, 15, note. 56. 66. 79. 

Norbanus, C, consul, 3, 72. 

Novaria, 1, 70. 

Novesium, 4, 26, note. 33. 35. 37. 62. 

70. 77. 79 ; 5, 29. 
Nymphidius Sabinus, 1, 5, 25. 37, 

O. 

Ocriculum, 3, 78, note. 

Octavius Sagitta, 4, 44. 

Oeenses, 4, 50, note. 

Onomastus, 1, 25. 28. 

Opitergium, 3, 6, note. 

Orfidius Benignus, 2, 43. 45. 

Orjitus, Cornelius, 4, 42. 

Oscus, 1,87. 

Osiris, 4, 84. 

Os^'a, 1, 80, note. 83. 

Otho, governor of Lusitania, 1,13, note, 
a partisan of Gotha, ibid ; aspires to 
the throne, 21 ; encouraged by as- 
trologers, 22; largesses to the sol- 
diers, 24 ; is proclaimed emperor, 27 ; 
personal appearance, 1, 30, note ; ad- 
dresses the soldiers, 37. 83 ; exults in 
the death of Piso, 44; cannot pro- 
hibit crimes, 45 ; honored by the 
senate, 47 ; conceals his vices, 71 ; 
lavishes honors and offices,77 ; leaves 
the city, 90, and goes to war with 
Vitellius, 2, 11 ; eager for a decisive 
battle, 33 ; is defeated, 43 ; puts an 
end to his own life, 49 ; life and 
character, 50 ; summary of his reign, 
pp. 237-8. 

P. 

Pacorus, 1, 40, note ; 5, 9. 

Padus Jluviu-s, 1, 70, note ; 2, 17. 22. 

32. 40 ; 3, 52. 
Paetus Thrasea, 2, 91. 
Pamphylia, 2, 9. 
Pannonia, 1, 76 ; 2, 11. 32. 
Parthi,2, 82; 5, 9. 
Patavium, 2, 100, note ; 3, 6. 7. 
Patrobius, 1, 49 ; 2, 95. 
Peligni, 3, 59, note. 
Perusia, 1, 50, note. 
Persae, 5, 8. 



Petronia, 2, 64, note. 

Petronius Turpilianus, 1, 6, note. 37* 

Pharsalia, 1, 50, note ; 2, 38. 

Philippic 1, 50, note ; 2, 38. 

Phoenices, 5, 6. 

Picenum, 3, 42. 

Piso Licinianus, 1, 14, note. 15. 34. 43, 

48. 
Piso, L. 4, 38. 48-50. 
Placentia, 2, 17, note. 20. 23. 
Plinius, C. 3, 28, note. 
Plotius Firmus, 1, 46. 49, 82 ; 2, 46. 
Poetovio, 3, 1, note. 
Polemon, 3, 47, note. 
Polyclitus, 1, 37, note ; 2, 95. 
Pompeius Magnus, 2, 38. 
Pompeius, Propinquus, 1, 12. 58; 

Silvanus, 2, 86 ; 3, 50, note ; 4, 47. 
Pontia Postumia, 4, 44. 
Pontius Pilatus, 5, 9, note. 
Pontus, 2, 6 ; 3, 47. 
Poppaea Sabina, 1, 13, note. 78. 
Porsena, 3, 72, note. 
Proserpina, 4, 83. 
Ptolemaeus, king of Egypt, 4, 83, 84, 

notes. 
Ptolemaeus, an astrologer, 1, 22, note. 
Puteolani, 3, 57. 
Pythius Apollo, 4, 83. 

Q. 

Quintilius Varus, 4, 17 ; 5, 9, note. 
Quinctius Atticus, 3, 73, note. 75. 
Quirinus, 4, 58. 



Raetia, 1, 11 ; 3, 5. 8. 

Ravenna, 2, 9, note. 100 ; 3, 6. 40. 50. 

Regium Lepidum, 2, 50, note. 

Remi, a people of Gaul, 4, 67. 68. 

Rhacotis, 4, 84, note. 

Rhenus, 4, 26. 

Rhodus, insula, 2, 2. 

Rhoxolani, 1, 79, note. 

Rigodulum, 4, 71. 

Roma, conflagration in, 1, 2, note ; its 
state under Galba, 1, 11 ; credulous 
of rumors, 1, ]9; mistress of the 
world, 2, 32 ; surrendered to Porsena, 
3, 83 ; captured by the Flavians, 3, 
83, and p. 239. 

Roscius Coelius, 1, 60. 

Roscius Regulus, 3, 37. 

Rubellius Plautus, 1, 14, note. 



442 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



S. 
Sabinus, Flavius, 1, 46. 77, note ; 2, 

36, note. 51, note. 55. 63. 99 ; 3, 65. 

69. 70. 74, note ; 4, 47. 
Sacrovir, Julius, 4, 57, note. 
Salonina, 2, 20. 
Salvius Cocceianus, 2, 48. 
Salvius Otho, 2, 50. 
Salvius Titianus, 1, 75.77. 90; 2,23. 

33. 39. 68. 
Samnites, 3, 59, note. 
Sardinia, 2, 16. 
Sarmatae, 1, 2, note. 79; 3, 24; 4, 

54. 
Saturnus, I, 27 ; 3, 73 ; 5, 2, note. 4. 
Saxa rubra, 3, 79, note. 
Scribonia, mother of Piso, 1, 14. 
Scribanianus Camrrinus, 2, 72, note. 
Scribotiianus, brother of Piso, 1, 47 ; 

4, 39. 
Scribonianus, Furius Camillus, 1,89, 

note ; 2, 75. 
Scribonii fratrcs, 4, 41, note. 
Seleucia, 4, 64. 
Seleucus, an astrologer, •:. : & 
Scmpronius, 77. 3,34. 
Seniensis colonia, 4, 45, note. 
Sequani, 1, 51, note ; 4, 67. 
Srrapis, 4,81, note. 84, note. 
Sertorius, 4, 13, note. 
Servius Tullius, 3, 72, note. 
Servii, 2, 48. 
Sextilia, mother of Vitellius, 2, 64, 

note. 89 ; 3, 67. 
Sido, 3, 5, note. 21. 
Silanus, father-in-law of Caligula, 4, 

48, note. 
Silius Italicus, 3, 65, note. 
Simon, 5, 9, note ; another, 5, 12. 
Sinope, 4, 83. 84. 
Sinuessanae aquae, 1, 72, note. 
Sisenna, 2, 8 ; 3, 51, note. 
Sokemus rex, 2, 81, note ; 5, 1. 
Soli/mi, 5, 2. 

Sophonius Tigellinus, 1, 72, note. 
Sosius, 5, 11, note. 
Stoechades, 3, 43, note. 
Suetonius Paullinus, 1, 87. 90 ; 2, 23, 

25. 31. 44. 60. 
Sued, 1,2, note. 
Sulla, dictator, 2, 38, note ; 3, 83. 



T. 

Tarentum, 2, 83, note. 
Tarpeia rupes, 3, 71, note. 



Tarquinius, Priscus, 3, 72 ; Superbus, 

ibid. note. 
Tarracina, 3, 57. 60, note. 76. 77 ; 4, 3. 
Tartarus, Jiuvius, 3, 9. 
Tat ins, rex, 2, 95. 
Taurina ala, 1, 59, note; colonia, 2, 

66. 
Tencteri,4,t\. 64. 77. 
Teutoni, 4, 73, note. 
Thracia, 1,11. 
Tiber is, 1, 86. 
Tiberius Alexander, 1, 11, note; 2, 

74. 79. 
Ticinum, 2, 17, note. 27, note. 68. 88. 
Titus, son of Vespasian, 1, 1. 10; 2, I. 

-2. 5. 79. 62; 4, 38. 51. 52. 86; 5, 1. 

10. 11. 13. 
Tolbiacum, 4, 79, note. 
T*rajanus, 1,1, note on Uberiorem. 
Trapezus, 3, 47, note. 
Trebellius Maximus, 1, 60, note; 3, 

65. 
Treveri, 1, 53, note ; 4, 18. 
Triaria, wife of Vitellius, 2, 63. 64 ; 3, 

77. 
Tul/ius Valentinus,4, 68. 69. 71. 85 
Tiuigri, 2, 14. 15 ; 4, 16. 55« 66. 79. 
Tutor, Julius, 4, 55. 59. 70 ; 5, 19. 21. 



U. 

Ubii, 4, 18. 28 ; 5, 22. 
Umbria, 3, 41. 42. 52. 
Umbricius, haruspex, 1, 27. 
Urbinum, 3, 62, note. 
Usipii, 4, 37. 

V, 

Vada, 5, 20. 21. 

Valerius Asiaticus, 1, 59 ; 4, 4. 6. 

Valerius Festus, 2, 98 ; 4, 49, note. 50. 

Vangiones, 4, 70. 

Va scones, 4, 33, note. 

Vaticanus, 2, 93, note. 

Vatinius, a freedman, 1, 37, note. 

Velabrum, 1 , 27, note ; 3, 74. 

Veleda, 4, 61, note. 65 ; 5, 22. 24. 

Ventidius, 5, 9. 

Venus, 2, 2, note. 3. 

Venutius, 3, 45, note. 

Vercellae, 1, 70. 

Verginius Capito, 3, 77 ; 4, 3. 

Verginius Rufus, 1, 8, note. 9. 52. 77 

2, 49. 51. 68. 
Verona, 3, 8, note. 10. 50. 52. 



INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES. 



443 



Vespasianus, is sent to conduct the 
Jewish war, 1, 10 ; 'destined to the 
empire by the Fates, 1, 10 ; 2, 1. 78 ; 
adheres to Otho, 1, 76 ; acts in con- 
cert with Mucianus, 2, 7 ; almost 
finishes the Jewish war, 3, 4 ; 5, 10 ; 
meditates war against Vitellius, 2, 
74; is proclaimed emperor, 2, 80; 
goes to Alexandria, 3, 48; is honored 
by the senate, 4, 3 ; enters absent on 
the consulship, 4, 38 ; works mira- 
cles, 4, 81 ; visits the temple of Sera- 
pis, 82 ; appoints Titus to the com- 
mand in Judaea, 2, 82 ; 5, 11 ; his 
character, 1, 50, note; 2, 5. 77; pro- 
phecies of the Messiah applied to 
him, 5, 13. 

Vestae, aedes, 1, 43, note ; Virgines, 
3, 81, note ; 4, 53. 

Vestricius Spurinna, 2, 11, note. 18. 30. 

Vetera, 4, 18. 35. 36. 57. 60. 62 ; 5, 14. 

Vettius Bolanus, 2, 65. 97. 

Via, Appia, 4, 11 ; Bedriacensis, 3, 
27 ; Flaminia, 2, 64 ; 3, 79. 82 ; Sa- 
cra, 3, 68 ; Salaria, 3, 78. 



Vibius Cnspus, 2, 10, note ; 4, 41. 43. 

Vicetia, 3, 8, note. 

Vienna, 1, 65, note. 77 ; 2, 66. 

Vindex, Julius, ], 6. 8, note. 51. 57. 

Vindonissa, 4, 61, note. 70. 

Vinius, T. 1, 1. 6. 11. 13. 32. 37. 42. 48. 

Vitellius, is sent as legate into Lower 
Germany, 1, 9, note. 52; revolts, 1, 
51 ; is proclaimed emperor, 1, 57 ; 
marches for Italy, 2, 57 ; enters 
Rome, 2, 88 ; agrees to abdicate, 3, 
65; leaves his palace, but soon re- 
turns, 3, 68 ; is put to death, 3, 85, as 
also his son, 4, 80 ; his character, 1, 
62 ; 2, 31. 59. 62. 95 ; 3, 36. 62. 67. 86 ; 
summary of his reign, p. 238. 

Vitellius, L. father of the Emperor. 1, 
9, note. 52 ; 3, 66. 86. 

Vitellius, L. brother of the Emperor, 
1, 88, note ; 2, 54 ; 3, 37. 38. 55. 58. 
77; 4,2. 

Vocetius, mons, 1, 68, note. 

Vocontii, 1, 66. 

Vocula, vid. Dillius. 

Vologeses, 1, 40, note ; 4, 51. 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



A. 

Ablative-^-of subst. and part, denoting 
the cause, 1, 4. 26. 85; 3, 11. 40; 4, 
11 ; of part, and clause, 4, 17. 39 ; of 
the part, impers., 3, 20 ; 4, 10 ; of ac- 
comp. circum., 1,1: of quality, 1, 8. 
34. 48. 52. B8. 90; 3, 23; without a 
prep, denoting place, 1, 2: ora* 55; 
2, 10; 3, '2'j. 38; 5, 5. 23; especially 
with tutus, 2, 95; 4, 18; of way 
(route), 5, 18; volunt. agent, 1, 79 ; 
after abhnnerc, 5, 24 ; of adj. u 
proper names, ends in r, 1, B£. 

Abripere, 2, 20. 30. 

Abstract— for concrete, 1, 17. 32. 87 ; 

2, 74. 87. 92; 3, 04 ; Lat. deficient in 
abs. words, 1, 1. 18. See also under 
Concrete. 

Abstractus, 4, 2. 
Absurdus, with neg., 3, G2. 
Accessit = add to this, 1, 5. 51. 
Accipere — atrocius, 1, 23; aspere, 1, 

23 ; in fidem, 1, 37 ; in majus, &c, 

1, 18 ; for audire, 3, 38. 
Accusative — after adversari, 1,1; eni- 

ti, 1, 23; sub, 1, 27; prope, 3, 21; 

incidere, 3, 29; egredi, 3, 30. 70; 

affeiri, 3. 43 ; eluctari, 3, 59 ; audere, 

3, 76 ; imbui, 5, 4 ; in appos. with a 
sent, or clause, 1, 44 ; 3, 31 ; of 4th 
Dec. neut. in um, 1, 22; pi. of 3d 
Dec. in is, 4, 16. 22. 

Acer, acrior, I, 15. 21 ; 2, 20. 

Acies, 4, 78 ; pedestris, 5, 15 ; silens, 

5, 17. 
Acrius quam considerate, 1, 83. 
Actiones, al. auctiones, 1, 20. 
Ad, adverbially with num., 1, 61. 
Adductius, 3, 7. 
Adeo, 1, 9 ; 4, 80 ; non = much less, 

3, 39. 
Adhibitus, 1, 14; 2, 1. 
Adi g ere— sacrament o, 1, 55; in verba, 

&C.,2, 14. 



Adj.— for adv.— of time, 1, 76; with 

agere, 3, 44 ; 2, 68 ; and pail., same 

word of diff. signif., 2, 100 ; 3, 42. 
Adolcre, 2, 3. 
Adv. for adj. (with ellip. of part.), 1, 

50. 57. 05. 75 ; 2, 26. 64 ; 5, 48. 
Ad ul a (iones, 2, 90. 
Adulta node, &c, 3, 23. 
Ad rectus (subst.), 4, 84. 
Adversari, l, l. 

s—templum, 1, 27; Apollinis, 1, 

27 ; Concordiae, 3, 08 ; pi. applied to 

the Capitolium, 3, 71. 
Aeque . . . quam, 2, 10. 
Affecta, fides, 3, 05 ; affectare secre- 

turn, 3, 13 ; affectatio, 1, 80. 
Agere— to act a part, 1, 30 ; stationern, 

1, 28 ; with ellip. of stationern, 2, 15; 

ftrbitrium, 4, 21 ; vertere, 1, 2. 
Agger, 2, 22 ; vs. moles, 5, 14 ; viae, 

Ag/iati, 5, 5. 

Ala, 1, 54; Taurina, 1, 59; Siliana, 
1, 70 ; Petrina, 1, 70 ; Auriana, 3, 5. 
Alienus, 1, 1. 29 ; 5, 5. 
Alioquin, 2, 27. 
Alliteration, 1, 71. 72. 
Allusions or resemblances— to Horn., 

1, 80; Demos., 2, 77; Thucyd., 2, 
38; 3, 28; Plat., 4, 0; Cic, 4, 42; 
Sail., 1, 40 ; 2, 38 ; 3, 73 ; 4, 69 ; Virg., 

2, 33 ; 3, 28 ; and see under Virgilian. 
Alter for alius, 2, 90 ; 3, 1. 
Ambages, 2, 4. 78 ; 5, 13. 

Ambitio, 1, 1 ; Ambitiosus—^rumor, 1, 
12 ; imperium, 1, 83 ; preces, 2, 49. 

Ambitus, 1, 19. 20; 3, 39. 

Ampliare, prolatare, &c, 2, 78. 

Anastrophe, 2, 64 ; 5, 8. See under 
Prep. 

Ancilia condita, 1, 89. 

Animosus, 1, 24. 

Annexu connubiisque, 3, 34. 

Annuli, sc. aurei, 1, 13; 4, 3. 

Antequam, followed by subj., 1, 4: 



INDEX TO THE NOTES, 



445 



componam. 1, 7 : juberentur. et 

al. 
Antistites, praestites, priests, 4, 83. 
Antithesis, 1, 7 ; Ant. particles, one 

omitted by T., 1, 14. 83; 3, 18. 45. 

60 ; 4, 55. 76 ; 5, 21. 
Apposition denoting purpose, 1, 72 ; 

3, 61. 72. 
Aptior sermone, al. sermoni, 2, 5. 
Appulsu littoris, 2, 59. 
Apud = at the house of, 1, 14 ; in the 

estimation of, 1, 21. 
Aquilae, in architecture, 3, 71. 
Arcana, penetralia, 5, 9. 
Anna, tela, 4, 23. 
Arte et impulsu, 1, 4. 
Arx Capitolii, 3, 69. 
Asperare, 2, 48 ; 3, 38. 
Astrepere, 2, 90. 
Asyndeton, 1, 37 ; 2, 42. 80 ; 3, 13 ; 4, 

75. See also Inf. in a series. 
At, a transition particle, 3, 36. 
Atrium Libertatis, 1, 31. 
Attraction, 1, 65 : una amne. 1, 34. 90 ; 

2, 27 : altiore initio. 2, 45. 74. 82 ; 4, 

23. 56; 5, 21. 
Au$itus (subst.), 1, 76. 
Augurship and pontificate, 1, 77. 
Aut, 1, 77. 88 ; 4, 71 ; vs. ml, 2, 41. 76 ; 

an, 3, 42. 



B. 

Basilica, 1, 40. 

Bodies of the dead in different ages and 

countries, 1,49; 5, 5. 
Brachylogy, 1, 62 ; 2, 30. 74 : progrcs- 

sum. 76 ; 3, 13. 70 ; 4, 24. 

C. 

Camarae, 3, 47. 

Capitoline— temple, 1, 86; 4, 53 ; cita- 
del, 3, 69. 

Captus animi, 3, 73. 

Caput, urbs, civitas, \, 68. 

Caritas, 2, 37. 

Castris secundis, &c, 3, 15; 4, 71. 

Catervae, cunei, 2, 42. 

Cedere— to give up, 2, 77 ; with ellip. 
of vita, 2, 55. 

Celeber, 1, 81 ; 2, 50 ; Celebratus, 2, 
49 ; 4, 83. 

Cella, etymol. of, &c, 1, 86. 

Censer e, 1, 19; 4,8. 

Centuriae, centuriones. 1, 51 ; 3, 61. 

Circa = in respect to, 1, 13. 
38 



I Circumcision— extensively practised, 5, 
j 5 ; reason for it, ibid. 
! Cimliter, 2, 91. 
Civitatis donum, 1, 8 ; 3, 47. 
Clades, 1, 2 ; Alliensis, CremerensiSt 

2,91. 
Claustra—Caspiarum, 1, 6 ; maris, 3, 

43. 
Clavarium, 3, 50. 
Coactores agminis, 2, 68. 
Cohibere, retinere, &c, = to govern, 

1,11. 
Conors— togata, 1, 38 ; urbanae, 1, 20 ; 
praetorianae, 1, 20; Cohorts num- 
bered, 1, 80. 
Collate gradu, 2, 42. 
Collega,\, 10; 3, 11. 
Columen, 2, 28 ; 4, 84. 
Comitia — imperii, 1, 14; consulum, 

2, 01 : dissolved by storms, 1, 18. 
Commanipulares, 4, 46. 
| Commeatus, 3, 52 ; 4, 26. 
; Comparative with ellip. of abl., 1, 14; 

4, 6. 
Compeiere, 2, 50. 
Complecti armis, 1, 36. 
Complere, to man a vessel, 5, 23. 
Componere, to bury, 1, 47; to plan, 

5, 22. 
Compositus, 1, 7. 71. 82 ; 2, 55 ; 3, 37. 52. 
Concinnity of clauses, 2, 72. 
Concipere verba, 4, 31. 41. 
Conclamare, of one man, 3, 29. 
Concrete words, Latin fond of, 1, 1.18. 

62 ; 4, 3. 63. 

Conflagrations— at Rome, 1, 2; of the 
Capitol, 3, 72. 

Confundere, 1, 44. 

Confusio, blushing, 4, 40. 

Congruere, 1, 7. 

Const ans, = firm, bold, 3, ]. Cf. 2, 96. 

Consul, 1, 1 ; tenure of his office, 1, 77. 

C onsular is— sc. legatus, 1, 9. 60; im- 
perium, 4, 3. 

Coniactus (subst), 2, 60. 

Continuus = conterminus, 2, 6. 

Contrasted words, contiguous, 3, 53 ; 
4, 29. 41. 69. 

Contubernium, 1, 43. 

Corn brought to Rome, 3, 48. 

Corona sub, 1,68. 

Corpora = soldiers, 2, 11. 

Corpus = body politic, 4, 64. 

Cotemporary historians flatter the Em- 
perors, 1, 1 ; 2, 80. 97 ; 3, 71 ; 4, 86. 

Credulus, 1, 12; credulafama, 1, 34. 



446 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



Cum— causalis, followed by subj., 1,7: 
coeptaret. 10 : vacaret. 12. 23. 56 ; 2, 
13. 19. 25 39. 88; temporalis, with 
imp. and plup. subj. in narration, 1, 
22. 39. 68 ; 4, 9 ; = although, 2, 62. 

Cum maxime, 1, 29. 

Cunctatio, 1, 33. 

Cur— etymol. of, &c, 3, 24 ; enim = 
why else, 3, 70. 

Cur a = office, 1, 52 ; Curare, 3, 15. 

Curulis, sc. sella, 2, 59. 

D. 

Dative— for abl. with ab, 1, 11. 86 ; 2, 

83 ; 3, 12 ; 4, 13 ; 5, 15. 22 ; for ace. 

with ad. 1, 55 ; 2, 17 ; 5, 25 ; of the 

end or tendency, 1,18; 3, 35 ; 4, 1 1 ; 

particularly of the gerundive, 1, 18; 

3, 49. 54. 70; after recolcre, 1, 77; 

of 4th Dec. in u, 2, 71. 
De, al. e, 2, 74. 
Dead Sea, 5, 6. 
Debilitas, 1,9; 4, 62. 81. 
Decern novcm, vs. novendecim, 2, 58. 
Decora = pulchra, 1, 53. 
Decumari, 1, 37. 

Decuriones, 1, 70; equitum, 2, 29. 
Deesse, followed by, 4, 1. 
Degenerare, 3, 28. 
Delator es, 1, 2. 
Delubrum, 3, 82; 5, 13. 
Descenderc in causam, 3, 3. 
Desiderium, cupido, 1, 7-2. 
Designatus, praetor, &c, 2, 91. 
Despectare, 2, 30. 
Dextrae, 1, 54. 
Dijferi = dirimi, 5, 23. 
Diffugia, 1, 39. 

Dignus, qui, followed by subj., 1. 15. 
Digredi, degredi, 3, 69. 
Dilabi, 1, 31. 
Diplomata, 2, 54. 
Dis, etymol. of, 4, 83. 
Dispergere, to spread reports, 2, 1. 
Dispicere, 4, 55. 

Dispositus provisusque (subst.), 2, 5. 
Dissimulatio, 1,26 ; -tus (part.), 2, 71 ; 

4,24. 
Distributives for cardinal numbers, 1, 

2; 3, 82. 
Diver sitas, 1, 62 ; -sus for ad versus, 2, 

34 ; 3, 5. 73 ; 4, 16. 
Divus, 2, 33. 
Dolabra, 3, 20. 
Domus, tectum, 1, 84. 



Domi retinere, 1, 11. 
Donativum, congiarium, 1, 18. 
Donee— not in Caesar and Cicero, 3, 10 ; 

until, followed by subj. imp., and 

indie, perf., 1, 13. 35; 2, 1. 3. 10 ; 4, 

37 ; so long as, 1, 35. 
Dum— provided t hat, with subj., 1, 46 ; 

till, 1, 70. 



E. 

E, in composition, 3, 74. 

Eblandiri, 3, 37. 

Educere, to erect, 2, 34. 

Effundere, 2, 23. 

EjTusis lacrimis, 1, 69. 

Egyptians, superstitious, 1, 11 ; 4, 81 ; 
5, 4. 5. 

Ejurare, 4, 39. 

Elections deferred by ill omens, 1, 18. 

Ellipsis— in ut si, 1, 32 ; of fieri solet 
after ut, 1,31. 90 ; 3, 59 ; of verbs of 
doing, &c, 1, 19. 30. 84 ; 2, 38. 91 ; 
before ni, 1, 64 ; 3, 26. 66; of part, 
with adv., 1,65, and see under adv. ; 
of causa, before gen. of gerundive, 
4, 25. 42 ; see also under Esse, Age- 
re, and Ant. particles. 

Emphatic position, 1, 8. 21. 49; 2, 14. 
41. 70; 3,43.85; 4, 41.76; 5,7.9.13. 

Enallage— of the part.,ger. and inf., 1, 
23. 43 ; of various kinds, 1, 1. 53. 74. 
80. 85 ; 2, 9. 19. 30. 95 ; 3, 5 ; 4, 4. 28. 
62. 84. See also under Variety. 

Eo — old dat., 3, 17 ; -dem, do., 5, 14 ; 
correl. to quia, 3, 25 ; = ideo, 1, 13. 

Eodem actu, 1, 12. 

Equites, 1, 35 ; command the praeto- 
rians, 4, 68. 

Eruere, for evertere, 4, 72. 

Esse, omitted in all modes and tenses, 
I, H8. 79. 81 ; 2, 1 ; 3, 8 ; 4, 7. 18. 

Ei — for etiam, 1, 23 ; nam, 1, 52 ; ita- 
que,2, 1(5; eteni?n,3,4(5; et—que,5,5. 

Etesiae, 2, 98. 

Etruscans captured Rome, 3, 72. 

Eum for se, 2, 9. 

Euphemism, 3, 38. 

Evincere, 2, 64. 

Evocatus, 1, 41. 

Ex = according to, 1, 27; 2, 85 ; fa- 
cili=facilia, 3, 49. 

Exauctoratus, 1, 20. 

Exemplares for -ia, 4, 25. 

Exonerate, 4, 40 ; 5, 2. 

Exosculari, 2, 49. 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



447 



Expedite , 1, 10;— turn agmen, &e, 

3, 50. 

Exsul, extorris, 5, 24. 

Exsultare,frui, 3, 83. 

Exterrere, 1, 39. 50. 

Externus = anti-Roman, 1, 79; 3,5; 

4, 32. 57. 

Extra conventum, 4, 56. 
Exundare, 5, 2. 

F. 

Faces iw manibus, sc. habentes, 3, 33. 
Facilis, act. with abl. of instr., 1, 79. 
Facts implied or left to be inferred (T. 's 

conciseness), 1, 23. 46. 77; 2, 52. 71. 
Falces scalaeque, 3, 27. 
Falsi, forgery, 2, 86. 
Familia = gens, 2, 48 ;— ae = servi, 

1,90. 
Famosus = famous, 1, 10 ; in a bad 

sense, 2, 97. 
Fastos exonerare, 4, 40. 
Fatigare, to importune, 1, 29. 
Fatiscere, 3, 10. 
Favorabilis, 2, 97. 
Jessa aetas, 1, 12. 
Fidei patiens, 3,5. 
Flagitia, dedecus, 2, 37. 
Flagitare—poscere, postulare, 1, 12 ; 

-li, in a judicial sense, 1, 53. 
Flammare, 2, 74. 
Flexus autumni, &e, 5, 23. 
Fluxus, 1,21. 
For a, 1,72; -es, 1, 82. 
Forma, decus, 1, 7. 
Fortuitus, 1, 4. 
Fortunae (pi.), 4, 1. 
Frustra, 2, 90 ; -tiones, 1, 73. 
Functus praetura, &c, 2, 63. 
Fungi gaudio, 2, 55. 
Furor, rabies, 1, 63. 

G. 

G. and C. , originally identical, 1, 3. 23 ; 
3, 56. 

Gauls, impetuosity of, 4, 56 ; customs, 
4,61. 

Genitive— at a place, 2, 1 ; objective, 
1, 46. 60 ; 2, 1. 76. 92. 93 ; 3, 3 ; to- 
gether with subjective, 1, 89 ; 3, 10 ; 
of quality, 1, 35 ; 3, 23 ; of the re- 
spect, 4, 84. 

Gentes = foreign nations, 3, 34. 

Gentile name, repeated, when two per- 



sons bearing the same belong to dif- 
ferent families, 1, 20. 

Germans, order of battle, 4, 16 ; stand- 
ards, 4, 22 ; customs, 4, 61. 64 ; ven- 
eration for woman, 4, 61 ; wars 
with Romans, 4, 73. 

Glass, discovery of, 5, 7. 

Gnarus, passive, 5, 17. 

Gravior—socius, 3, 3 ; auctor, 3, 43. 

Gravissimus, 2, 61. 

Greek usages, 1, 84. 90 ; 3, 33. 48. 49 
65. 70. 74 ; 4, 24. 28. 55. 

H. 

Habere— excusandum, 1, 15 ; pensi, 1, 
46 ; in custodiam, 1, 87 ; obvium, 
3, 59. 

Haruspex, 1, 27 ; from Etruria, 4, 53. 

Hasta, of the auctioneer, 1, 20. 

Haud, 1, 89; perinde, 1, 89; alienus, 

2, 22 ; facile, 3, 28. 
Haurire, 1, 41 ; animo, 1, 51. 
Hendiadys (real or supposed), 1, 5. 36. 

41. 57. 63. 67. 69. 88 ; 2, 12. 19. 20. 37. 

56. 62. 64. 68. 70. 87 ; 3, 10 ; 4, 14. 26. 

55. 62. 64. 69. 72. 81 ; 5, 24. 
Hercule,mehercule, 1, 84. 
Hie . . . ille, 2, 38. 77. 79 ; 3, 19 ; 4, 27 ; 

5, 23; ... hie, 4, 55. 
Hinc . . . inde, 5, 24. 
Histor. inf. and pres. indie, followed 

by subj. of the past, 1, 27 ; 2, 5. 66 ; 

3, 60 ; interchanged with indie, past, 
3,31. 

Hora quint a, tertia, &c, 3, 16. 22. 
Horridus, incomptus, 2, 11. 
Horti, Serviliani, 2, 38 ; Sallustiani, 
3, 82. 



Idem ac, 1, 16. 

Ideo = by that means, 1, 74 ; with cor- 

rel., 1, 74. 
Igitur, position, &c, 1, 29 ; 2, 2. 
I gnarus, inscius, 1, 11. 
Ille, indie, of notoriety, 1, 30; iste, 

contempt, 1, 30. 
Immane quantum, 3, 62. 
Imperator, 1, 7. 
Imperatoria brevitas, 1, 18. 
Imperf.— subj., where we use plup., 2, 

5. 62 ; 3, 63 ; denoting an attempt, 

2, 66. 67 ; 3, 60 ; 4, 9. 
Impers. for personal, construe, 1, 50. 90. 



448 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



Impetus, 1, 57; 3,27. 

Implacabilius, 3, 53. 

Imponere, to impose upon, 1, 30. 

Im pros per, 2, 30. 

Imputare, 1, 38. 55. 71. 

In- = apud, 3, 80 ; with ace. of purpose, 

1, 12. 51. 80 ; 3. 37 ; omitted before 
the abl., 1, 2. 13 ; 2, 33 ; majus, me- 
lius, &c., 1, 18. 52 ; abruptum, 1, 48 ; 
altitudinem, 4, 86 ; manus, for ad 
manus, 4, 71; medium, 2, 37; neu- 
trum, 3, 32; agmine, itincre, sta- 
tione, 1, 23 ; 5, 1 ; aperto, 3, 56 ; me- 
tu, pace, &c., 1, 86; procinctu, 3, 2. 

Inania belli, etc., 2, 69. 

Inauditus, in the judicial sense, 1, 6. 

Inchoare, of a motion in the senate, 4, 

41. Ci\ 3, 37. 
Inconcussus, 2, 6. 
Incur iosus, 1, 49. 
Incussus (subst.), 4, 23. 
Indef. subject, expressed by 2d pers. 

sing., 1,1: adverser is. 10. 45. 57. 
Indie— for subj. in orat. obi., 1, 33. 86 ; 

2, 14; 5, 17; after the subj., 3, 59. 
78; in the apod, of a condit. clause, 
1, 15: erat. 16 ; 3, 55 ; 4, 13. 

Indispositus, 2, 68. 

Inditus, al. iuclitus, &c, 3, 44. 

Industrius . . . pravus, 1, 48. 

Inermes provinciae, 1, 11. 

Infensus, 3, 24. Infestus, 2, 36. 

Infinitives — in a series without connec- 
tives, 1, 36. 45 ; 2, 30 ; 3, 16 ; in orat. 
obi., 1, 17. 21. 

Ingenium, 2, 71 ; 3, 28 ; 4, 32. 

Ingravescere, 3, 54. 

Inhonorus, 4, 62. 

Inhumanus, 2, 70. 

Inimicus . . . hostis, 2, 56 ; hostilis, 5, 
26. 

Initium coeptum, inchoatum, &c, 2, 
79. 85 ; 3, 14. 

Inquam, ait, aiunt, 2, 47. 

Insidiae, proditio, 2, 41. 

Instigatrix, 1, 51. 

Instinctor, 1, 23. 

Instinctus, impetus, &c, 1, 57. 

Insulae= blocks of buildings, 1, 86. 

Intectus, 4, 46. 

Intcndere, 1, 12. 89 ; 2, 22 ; 4, 79. 

Intercedere, to veto, 4, 9. 

Integer, 1,4. 

Inturbidus, 3, 39. 

Invidia, etymol., &c, 1, 82. 

Invisitatus, 2, 50. 



Irreverentia, 3, 51. 

Is . . . qui, with subj., 1, 15 ; 3, 72 ; .. . 

Ut,l, 28. 62. 
Ita—itaque, 1, 52 ; vs. tarn, 3, 59. 

J. 

Jacere oscula, 1, 36. 

Jactu fulminum, 5, 7. 

Jam = jam vero, 1, 7 ; in that case, 3, 

19. 
Jerusalem— form of the word, 5, 2; 

temple, 5, 8. 10 ; walls, 5, 8. 12 ; site, 

5, 11 ; supply of water, 5, 12; slain 

at the siege, 5, 13. 
Jews— vs. Cretans, 5, 2 ; prejudice 

against, 5, 2 ; worship image of the 

ass, 5, 4; why prohibited to eat 

swine's flesh, 5, 4 ; unleavened bread,. 

5, 4 ; worship as described by T. f 

5, 5. 
Judicare, sc, by arms, 3, 70. 
Jura libcrtorum = in libertos, 2, 92. 
Jurare in verba, 1, 36. 56 ; externa, 4, 

57. 
Jargia, rixa, 1, 64. 
Jus— fas, 1, 44 ; hominum, 3, 51. 
Justus — exercitus, 4, 21 ; indicium, 

1,3. 
Juxta, 2, 76 ; 5, 7. 



K. 



Kalendas, 1, 12. 



Labor-opus, 5, 12 ; = sickness, 3, 38. 

Lacus-Curtii, 1, 41 ; Fundani, 3, 69. 

Latium, Latinitas, &c, 3, 55. 

Latus = copious, 1, 90. 

Laurea, 3, 77. 

Legatus, legionis, praetorius, consu- 

laris, &c, 1, 7. 55. 60 ; 2, 86. 
Legationibus adire, 1, 9. 
Legio, delectus, &c, 1, 5 ; 3, 58. 
Lenimentum, 2, 67. 
Lex curiata, 1, 15. 
Liber (the god), etymol., 5, 5. 
Liberti—vs. libertini, 1, 46 ; the state 

ruled by, 1, 13. 
Librari, 1, 16; 2,22. 
Licentia, libido, 1, 12. 
Lictor proximus, 3, 80. 
Ligones, 3, 27. 
Limes apertus, 3, 21. 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



449 



Lixae, calories ', 1, 49 ; 2, 87. 
Loco regum, 1, 11. 
Locuples, 1, 46. 
Luctus, dolor, 2, 51. 
-Lwes immensa, 3, 15. 
Lustratio, 1, 87 ; 4, 53. 

M. 

Maccabees, 5, 8. 

Magna adulteria = magnorum viro- 
rum, 1, 2. 



S, 1, 77. 

Mancipatus emptusque, 2, 71. 
Manipulus, manipulares, 1, 25. 46. 
Mapalia, 4, 50. 
Materia, lignum, 5, 20. 
Meatus for volatus, 1, 62. 
Medie, 1, 19. 
Meditamentum, 4, 26. 
Mens, animus, 1, 44. 
Merito, 1, 21 ; = cwZ/?a or causa, 5, 4. 
Messiah— expectation of in the East, 5, 

13 ; prophecies of applied to Vesp., 

ibid. 
Miliar eum aureum, 1 , 27. 
Military terms in Greek and Latin not 

of common derivation, 1, 38. 79. 
Militiae (nom. pi.), 3, 18. 
Miracles of Vesp. vs. the Christian, 4, 

81. 
Modo . . . nunc, 2, 51. 
Months, names of, 1, 12. 77. 
Mourning apparel at Rome, 3, 67. 
Multo — die, 2, 44 ; node, 3, 77 ; luce, 

5,22. 
Municipium, colonia, &c. 1, 70. 
Munus = spectaculum, 2, 70. 
Muri, moenia, 2, 22. 

N. 

Names— of men in reversed order un- 
der the Empire, 3, 36 ; 4, 18 ; of wo- 
men, 2, 60 ; prefixed, not subscribed, 
to written documents, 2, 65 ; of places 
permanent, 1, 53. 

Namque, 3, 42 ; 4, 79. 83. 

Naves longae, 2, 83. 

Necessitates— supremae, 1,3; etymol. 
of, ibid. 

Ne— the orig. neg. particle, 1, 16 ; for 
ut non, 1, 85; quidem, 1, 15. 29 ; 2, 
15. 

Necdum— after et, 1, 31 ; = et nondum 
before et, 2, 18. 

38* 



Nequc.et (= et non), 1, 15. 16. 76; 

2, 6. 96 ; 3, 2 ; 4, 2. 73. 74 ; 5, 17. 
Ne territus fueris, vs. ne terrearis, 1, 

16. 
Negatives, used pleonastically as by the 

Attics, 3, 39. 
Neut. pi. of adj. with gen. of subst., 3, 

65. 76. 
Nex, mors, 3, 68. 
Ni, may be translated but, 1, 64 ; 3, 26. 

46 ; 4, 36. 
Nimirum, 1, 33 ; 3, 13. 
Nisi quod, 5, 28. 
Nominatim, 1, 43. 
Nomen—Romanorum = Romani, 4, 

18 ; faustum, 4, 53. 
Non— etymol. of, 1, 15 ; separated from 

its verb for emphasis, 2, 70 ; or dine 

militiae, 1, 31 ; quia . . . non, 1, 15. 

29 ; sane, 1, 12. 
Noscere, 1, 51. 68. 
Novus, sc. homo, 2, 53 ; novissimus, 1, 

47. 52. 
Numeri = cohortes, 1, 6; -us, == a 

mere number, 4, 15. 
Numidian out-riders, 2, 40. 

O. 

Oath of magistrates, 4, 6. 

Obire vigilias, 2, 29. 

Oblivium, 4, 9. 

Obtendere, 3, 36 ; 4, 80. 

Obtinere, continere, retinere, &c. = 

regere, 1, 10. 11. 49 ; 4, 22. 
Occupare = praevenire, 1, 40 ; 4, 2. 
Occurrere, of things as obstacles, 3, 20. 
Oceanus, an adj., 4, 12. 
Onerare, to aggravate, 2, 64. 
Oplio, 1, 25. 
Oratio obliqua, direct questions in, 1, 

50. See also under Ind., Inf., Subj., 

&c. 
Orbitas, 1, 73. 
Or do, Mutinensis, decurionum, &c, 

2, 52. 
Ornatus, equipped, 3, 63. 



Pagani, vs. milites, 3, 24 ; Eng. pagan, 

1,53. 
Pairs of words of kindred sign if., 1, 27. 

33. 84 ; 2, 12. 46. 70. 76 ; 3, 20 ; 4, 1. 

64. 72 ; 5, 24. 
Palari, passive, 3, 80. 



450 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



Pander e sinum, 1, 52. 
Parare, rapere, 1, 37. 
Participle— past used aoristically, 2, 

99; 3, 25; future denoting purpose, 

3, 48; 4, 36. 
Passive in a mid. sense, 1, 54 ; 4, 68. 

81 ; 5, 26. 
Patrimi matrimique,^, 53. 
Pavens, ti??iens, &c, 1, 50. 
Pedestris, vs. navalis, 5, 15. 
People, put for countries, 5, 6. 
Per— in comp., 2, 49 ; 3, 3 ; 4, 9 ; with 

ace. = in, 1,54.88; 5,3. 
Perduci, in a bad sense, 1, 25. 
Perfect— subj. instead of imperf. after 

ut, denoting result, 1,3: prod id cr it. 

24. 26. 66 ; 2, 26 ; 3, 51. et al. ; 3d 

pi. in erunt and ere, 2, 23. 
Perfugere, 4, 60. 
Pergere, 1,18. 27. 
Perinde—V8. proinde, 1,30; quam,2, 

10. 39. 97 ; que, 5, 6. 
Periphrastic form, 1, 26. 
Pertinere followed by ad with ace, 

1,89. 
Pervicax, 4, 5. 
Penrigitia, 2, 68. 

Pietas, loyalty, 2, 69 ; fraternal affec- 
tion, 4, 5-2. 
Placamenta, 1, 63. 
Placatos manes, 3, 25. 
Places, permanence of names of, 1, 

53. 
Plerique, 1,39.87; 5,5. 
Pluperfect — where we with less exact- 
ness use imperf., 1, 18.24; 2, 13; 3, 

51; to denote rapidity of succession, 

4,1. 
Plutarch copies and translates T., 2, 

39. 49. 
Poenas—dare, 1, 45; luere, 2, 54. 
Poetical usages, 1, 2: trina. 7. 10. 13. 

16. 18. 20. 36. 37. 47. 51. 53. 62; 2, 2. 

15. 34. 35. 46. 64. 77. 78. 81 ; 3, 10. 12. 

26. 38. 63. 65. 74 ; 4, 55. 72 ; 5, 2. 6. 
Pons—Mulvius, 1, 87; sublicius, 1, 

86. 
Pontificate, held by the Emperor, 1, 

55. 77. 
Populus, plebs, vulgus, 1, 35. 
Porticus Vipsania, 1, 31. 
Post- Augustan— words, 1, 2. 6. 13. 23. 

49. 62. 70. 76. 80 ; 2, 6. 27. 30. 46. 49. 

54. 67. 90. 97 ; 3, 47 ; 4, 23. 26. 62 ; 

5,2. 9. 13 ; usages, significations, &c.» 

1, 6. 15. 19. 20. 24. 25. 30. 31. 38. 52. 



74 ; 2, 15. 19. 22 : haud. 39. 50. 63. 

70. 78 ; 3, 38. 65i 76 ; 4, 47. 65. 84 ; 5, 

13. 
Post Cremonam, sc. deletam, 3, 49. 
Postero iduum dierum, 1, 26. 
Potentia—potestas, 1,1. 13; principa- 

tus, 1,13; interior, 1, 2. 
Praedia, 1, 27. 
Praedictum = praeceptum, 3, 6; 4, 

53. 
Praefectus—urbis, 1, 14 ; legionis, 1, 

82 ; castrorum, 2, 26. 
Praegnantia, 1, 31. 42. 76. 85 ; 2, 21. 60. 

62 ; 3, 19. 41. 61 ; 4, 59. 
Praeire — sacrament um, 1, 36 ; sc. pre- 

cationem, 4, 53. 
Praesagus, 2, 1. 
Praestringere, 1, 84. 
Praesumere, 3, 9. 
Praetendere, 2, 6. 39. 
Praetextum, 1, 76. 77 ; -tus, 1,19. 
Prae tor— urbanus, 1, 47; etymol. of, 

ibid. 
Praetorians — legionaries, &c, how 

armed, 1, 38 ; commanded by eques- 
trians, 4, 68. 
Praetoria— porta, 4, 30 ; navis, 5, 22. 
Praetorium, 1, 20. 
Praevehi, praetervehi, 2, 2; 4, 71. 
Predicate— nom. for ace, 4, 55; neut. 

pi. with subjects sing, of difT. gend., 

1, 85 ; 2, 62 ; 5, 3 ; of same gend., 2, 
20; 3,70. 

Preposition— between adj. and subst., 

2, 3. 37. 54 ; 3, 27 ; 4, 4 ; between 
connected subst., 2, 78 ; 3, 19 ; 4, 77 ; 
5, 19. 

Pres. and Perf., for imperf. and plup. 

inorat. obi., 1, 32; 4, 17. 
Prima— acies = first part of battle, 4, 

33. 
Primitiae, 4, 53. 
Principia, 1, 48 ; 2, 43. 
Pro gradibus, rostris, etc., 1, 29. 
Proconsul, 1,49; 4, 48. 
Procurator, 1, 2. 
Prodigia, etymol. of, 1, 3; in Rom. 

His. explained, 4, 26 ; contradictory, 

2, 78. 81 ; not many recorded by T., 

2, 50 ; 4, 81. 
Projici with quid, nihil, &c, 5, 25. 
Promittere, 1, 37. 
Promptus, pronus, 2, 30. 
Pronis auribus, 1, 1. 
Prope—ab, 1, 10 ; 2, 76 ; as prep, with 

ace, 3, 21. 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



451 



Propinqui, 1, 15; 5, 24; proximi, 1, 

12. 
Propiorafluminis, 5, 16. 
Proponere, 1, 78. 
Protasis understood, 1, 45 ; 2, 17. 

Q. 

Qua = quatenus, 2, 31. 

Quam (comp.) followed by subj., 2, 4 ; 

3, 51. 

Quamvis with subj., 2, 59. 79. 
Quanquam with subj., 1, 9; 2, 20; 5, 

21. 
Qwe, pleonastic, 3, 63 ; 4, 2. 39. 
Question— direct in orat. obi., 1, 50; 

subj. of the indirect, 1,8: voluissei. 

19. 38. 42. 47. 69 ; 2, 7. 76 ; 3, 26, &c. 
Qui with subj. — denoting purpose, 1, 

56 ; 2, 96 ; 4, 15. 40 ; = talis ut, 1, L0. 

11 ; 2, 25. 39. 93 ; 3, 54. 78. 
Quiescens = in peace, 1, 15. 
Quia used for exhort, 3, 2. 20 ; 4, 24 ; 

etiam, 2, 17. 64 ; quin = quia etiam ^ 

4,25. 
Quippe, 1, 32. 
Quisque— after a superl., 1, 46 ; 2, 19 ; 

4, 33; with pi. pred., 4, 27; implied 
in nemo or ne quisquam in the an- 
tith.,2, 52; 1, 1. 

Quo followed by subj., 1, 12 : accipere- 

tur. 64. 
Quo minus followed by subj., 1, 18: 

pergeret ; after non admittere, 2, 40. 
Quod, quia, quando, quoniam, &c., 

1,31; 2, 11. 19; 3,8. 
Quod si, 1, 1; 3, 19. 

R. 

Rapere, 1, 13. 27; 3, 6; 5, 22. 

Recludere, 2, 77. 

Redemptorcs, 1, 27. 

Regnari, 1, 15. 

Relatu, 1, 30. 

Repens = recens, 1, 23 ; 4, 25. 

Repetundae, 1, 77. 

Repositus, 1, 10. 

Republican names and forms under 

the Emp., 1,7: imperatores. 1, 14: 

comitia imperii. 1, 15: lex curiata, 

4,8. 
Requirere, agnoscere, cognoscere,!, 23. 
Res Caesarum, vs. res pop. Rom., 1, 1. 
Retinere, obtinere, &c, to govern s 

1, 10. 11. 



Rhine— a god, 5, 17 ; etymol. of, ibid. 
Rigor, 1, 18. Rixari, 1, 74. 
Romans — religious spirit of, 1, 84; 4, 
69 ; as soldiers, 3, 54 ; 4, 58. 60. 72. 



S. 

Sacra?nento adigere, 1, 55. 

Sagum, vs. toga, 2, 20. 

Salus, incolumitas, 1, 66. 

Sane,l, 12; 2,93; 4,58; 5,21. 

Sarcinae, 2, 29. 

Saturday, Saturn's day, 5, 4. 

Saturnalia, 3, 78. 

Scindere, of party divisions, 1, 13. 

Scriptures illustrated, 1, 29. 62; 2, 2. 

5. 80 ; 5, 2. 3. 4. 7. 8. 9. 13. 
Secretum, 1, 22; 2, 4; 3, 13. 63. 
Sector, 1, 20. 
Securior, 1, 1. 

Sed omitted, 1, 1. 3. 29. 77 ; 2, 16. 27. 56. 
Seditious cast to beasts of prey, 2, 61. 
Segnis, deses, 2, 21. 
Segnitia maris, 3, 42. 
\ Sella, lectica, 1,27. 
I Senate— to be written to only by the 

Emperor, 2, 55 ; 4, 3 ; nominally 

choose consuls, 1 , 77 ; 2,91; speak in 

what order, 4, 4. 6 ; convened by 

whom, 4, 40; age of entrance, 4, 42. 
Seponere, to banish, 1, 46. 
Seven a sacred number, 5, 4. 
Si = to see if, 1, 31 ; 3, 30. 
Sidere, 2, 15. 
Silere, tacere, 5, 22. 
Signa, vexilla, aquila, 1, 36. 44 ; 3, 21. 
Simple verb used for comp., 1, 1 : mis- 

sa. 4: sueta. 5, 20: pellere. 35. 46. 

57. 63. 84 ; 2, 1. 9. 15. 46. 48. 65. 66. 

86 ; 3, 2. 25. 33. 34 ; 4, 20. 80. 
Simulare, 3, 69. 
Singulares, 4, 70. 
Sinistre, 1,7; -ter, 1, 51. 
Sinus— occultos aut ambitiosos, 2, 92 ; 

novos, 4, 14. 
Sixth day = after four days, 1, 29. Cf. 

2, 50. 
Slave, etymol. of, 2, 72 ; crucified, 4, 3. 

11. 
Sodom, apples of, &c, 5, 7. 
Soldiers choose their own officers, 1, 46. 
Solidatus, 2, 19. 
Sors, etymol. of, 4, 83. 
Spatia = courses, 2, 2. 
Speculator, 1,24; 2,73. 
Stare — to stand in, to cost, 3, 53. 72. 



452 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



Statim—mox, 1, 17; inde, 2, 6; gives 
emphasis to primus, &c, 4, 46. 

Stipendia, 2, 7G. 80. 

Stratus = sedatus, 1, 58. 

Structura contracta, 2, 34 ; 4, 37 ; 5, 11. 

Sub— in corap., 4, 50 ; of time, 1, 52; 
towards a place near, 1, 27. 

Subire, sc. animum, 1, 13. 

Subjunctive— after qui = dummodo is, 



Tacitean— words, 1, 2. 19. 30. 39. 49. 51 ; 

2, 5. 28. 30. 08 ; 3, 39. 50. 51. 53. 65 ; 

4, 70. 84; 5, 13 ; usages, senses, &c, 

1, 11. 23. 43. 46. 47. 58 ; 2, 14. 76. 78. 

90 ; 3, 7. 29. 74 ; 4, 40. 42. 57 ; 5, 13. 

17. 25. et al. ; vs. Ciceronian, 1, 13. 

15. 23. 29. 37 ; 2, 8. 10. 79. 87 ; 3, 10. 

28. 55. 65. 69. 76 ; 4, 5 ; 5, 21. 
Tanquam, 1, 6. 8. 46. 52. 



1, 26 ; after impers. verbs, 1, 84 ; de- Technical terms avoided by T., 2, 21 ; 
noting the views of others, not tho 3, 62 ; 4, 23. 81 ; 5, 3. 

author's, 1, 18. 20. 52. 58. 62. 74. 86 ; Temper are, 1, 48. 63. 69 ; 2, 62. 

2, 19. 64. 74. 88. 94 ; 3, 38. 50. 78 ; o | Tempestas, for tempus, 5, 2. 
the essential part, 1, 18 : legerct. 20 : t Tcmpestivus, 2, 68. 
donasset ; in subordinate clauses ofi Templum, aedes, 1, 27. 

orat. obi., 1, 17. 21. 29. 33. 35. 70 ; 2, Tendere, &c, stationem, 1,31. 



63. 75 ; 3, 53 ; for imperative of or. 
recta, 1, 32. 41 ; 2, 48 ; 5, 17; in a 
relative clause to assign a reason, 3, 
38. 53 ; after an indef. gen. expres- 
sion, 1, 25. 88 ; 2, 9 ; 3, 37 ; 5, 2 ; im 
perf. and plup. denoting repeated 
action, 1, 24. 49. 66. 85 ; 2, 27. 88 ; 3, 
33 ; imperf., implying the non-exist- 
ence, and pres. the real existence of 
the thing supposed, 1, 16; 2, 8; 3, 
24. 53 ; 4, 20. 75 ; perf. to soften an 
assertion, 1,1: abnuerim. 37. 42. 79. 
83; 2, 2. 50; 5, 7. See also, under 
Perfect, Imperf., Antequam, Donee, 
Ut. and Q. passim. 

Subsignani milites, 1,70. 

Suggestus, 1, 36. 

Summa rei, expeditionis, etc., 1, 87 ; 
2, 16. 33. 

Super— for insuper, 2, 34 ; praeter, 2, 
101 ; with abl. = concerning, 2, 8. 
63. 

Superior = prior, 1, 52. 

Superstitio, etymol., &c., 3, 58. 

Superventus, 2, 54. 

Supplication, attitude of, 1, 36. 66. 

Supplicium, poena, 1, 37. 

Suspectare, 2, 27. 

Sustentaculum, sanitas, columen, 2, 
28. 

Synecdoche, 3, 74 : aram, etc. 

Synesis, 1,67; 2,67. 

Synonyms for emphasis, 1, 41. See 
also under Pairs of words and Hen- 
diadys. 



Tabes, 1,26; Tafco, 2, 70. 
Tablets— of the laws, 4, 40 ; of treaties, 
4,67. 



Tenus, 1, 33. 

Teutoni = Deutsche, 4, 73. 

Theatre, place of public business 

among the Greeks, 2, 80. 
Tessera, 1, 25 ; 3, 22 ; -rius, 1, 25. 
Titulus, 1, 71. 
Tmesis, 1, 20 : super -er ant. 
Tollenon, 4, 30. 
Torus, 1, 82. 

Traditor for proditor, 4, 24. 
Transvectum est, of time, 2, 76. 
Treasury, how kept, 4, 9. 
Tribus, 3, 58; -unal, 3, 10 ; -unus, 1, 

28. 
Tributum, 1, 46; of the Gauls under 

Augustus, 4, 17. 
Turma, 1, 51 ; 3, 61. 
Turris, for prospect, 3, 58. 
Two clauses compressed into one, 1, 

19 : inde. 60 : proruperct. 2, 69. 76. 

90.91; 3,72; 4, 14. 

U. 

Ubi— adv. of time, 1, 1 ; =cum t al- 
though, followed by subj., 5, 21. 

Ultro, 1, 7. 32. 71 ; 2, 25. 66. 70 ; 3, 54 ,* 
4,79. 

Universus, 1, 32. 

Urna = sors, 4, 6. 

Ut— . . . ita = though . . . yet, 1, 4. 
17; 3,59; =velut, quasi, 1, 65; = 
prout, 2, 20. 46 ; omitted before subj., 
2, 46 ; 3, 5. 64 ; 4, 20 ; 5, 16 ; non for 
quin, 4,73; qui, followed by subj., 
1, 29. 37. 51 ; 2, 12 ; sic dixerim, 1, 
84. 

Uterque, 2, 58 ; with pi. pred., 2, 97. 

Utrum omitted before an, 1, 7. 



INDEX TO THE NOTES. 



453 



Vacationes, 1, 14. 

Variety— in orthography, 1, 2 ; in de- 
clension, 4, 9. 24 ; obsidio. 1, 36 : 
vulgum ; 2, 70 ; 4, 55 ; 5, 10 ; in con- 
struction, 1, 5. 35. 71 ; 3, 31. 59 ; 5, 8. 
11. 14. See also Enallage. 

Varius, anceps, 3, 22. 

Vates, 2, 78. 

Vatican, unhealthy situation, 2, 93. 

Ve, 1, 52 ; 2, 38. 

Vel—vel, 2, 37 ; si, 1, 33. 

Velabrum, 1, 27. 

Velut , in Cic. and T., 2, 8. 

Venditator, 1, 49. 

Venia, 5, 24. 

Verba, voces, 1, 18 ; 3, 65. 

Verbs of outward exp. of feeling, 2, 
19. 

Vernacula, urbanitas, &c, 2, 88. 

Vernile dictum, 3, 32. 

Versus in, 2, 83. 



Vestals, as intercessors, 3, 81. 
Vexilla, vexillarii, 1, 31. 
Via—Flaminia, 1, 86; Appia, ibid.; 

Salaria, 3, 78. 
Viatica, 1, 57. 
Wcws, 2, 23. 
Vigiliae, 1, 20. 
Vires, robur, 2, 11. 
Virgilian diction, 1, 16. 36. 57. 63 ; 2, 

33. 34. 35. 41. 64. 99 ; 3, 10. 30. 76. 80. 

81 ; 4, 55. 72. 80. 
Volens, passive, 3, 52. 
Volentibus fuit, for volebant, 3, 43. 
Vulgus = common soldiers, 1, 25. 46 ; 

-um, 1, 36. 
Vulnera contraria, 3, 84. 
Vultus, habitus, 1, 14. 17. 

Z. 

Zeugma, 1, 26 : dissimulatio. 27 : per- 
git. 28 : magnitudine. 29. 35. 67 ; 2, 
32.35.80; 3,42; 5,22. 



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1). Appleton Sf Co.'s Educational Publications. 

CRITICAL OPINIONS ON 
M. OLLENDORFF'S METHOD OF LEARNING 

The French, German, Spanish, and Italian Languages 

In an article in the " Methodist Quarterly Review,' 1 '' entitled Modes of Teaching Languages, 
after describing the various modes of Teaching, it goes on to state : — 

■ Some ten years ago, it seems, Captain Basil Hall, of famous memory, first found out how 
\o earn German. He had tried it again and again, but always found it impracticable until he 
iiumbled on Herr Ollendorff, who was teaching German at the time in Paris, and who led 
him along not by the nose, but by the mouth, most gently and delectably, into a sufficient know 
(edge of that noblest of modern tongues. As the captain has always been distinguished for big 
gratitude, he repaid the skilful teacher a hundredfold, by a puffin ' Schloss Hainfeld,' that made 
him at once a man of notoriery and fortune. 

" ' After six months of close application, I can venture to pronounce, that by Mr. Ollendorff '« 
method alone, so far as I have been able to understand the subject, can this very difficult, but 
very charming language be taught without confusion. By it. the scholar advances step by step, 
understands clearly and thoroughly every thing he reads, and as he goes on, he becomes sensible 
that all he learns he retains, and all that he retains is useful and practically applicable. At the 
same time, he scarcely knows how he got hold of it, so slightly marked are the shades of daily 
progression ; and so gentle is the rise, that he feels no unpleasant fatigue on the journey. Of 
course, the^student is called upon to exert no small degree of patient application, and he must 
consent to devote a considerable portion of his time to this pursuit ; but he will have the en 
couraging conviction, that every particle of effort is well bestowed.' 

" Every body in Paris began to learn German a la mode d? Ollendorff, and in all German 
towns you might find Englishmen and Frenchmen thumbing the ' New Method,' and repeating 
its thousand phrases with commendable perseverance. In 1833 the system was introduced intc 
England by the publication of the ' New Method of learning to read, write, and speak a Language 
in Six Months, for the Use of Schools and Private Teachers ;' and although the complete work 
extended to three octavo volumes, and was sold at an enormous price,* it soon acquired a great 
circulation. We have before us the fourth edition. Nor was the reputation of the work con- 
fined to Europe ; many copies were imported into this country, and of late the demand has beea 
so great, that an American edition has been brought out in excellent style by the Messrs. Ap 
pletons, with the addition of a clear ' Systematic Outline of German Grammar,' prepared by Mr. 
Adler, of the University of New-York. Nor has this success been by any means undeserved: 
the book certainly goes further in smoothing the rugged road to German than any other book 
extant ; and that too, not by attempting to dispense with the industry of the pupil, but by mak- 
ing all his industry profitable. 

" It takes all thath O oo& in the Hamiltonian method, by giving the words to be used at once 
to the student, and not sending him to the Dictionary to hunt them out ; and it involves 
Jacotot's best principle of fixing the forms of the language by constant repetition, and supplying 
grammatical principles only as they are required. These are its chief excellences, and they are 
essential to any good system. The book, especially with Mr. Adler's appendix, is infinitely 
better adapted for use as an introduction to the German language than any other that we know 
of, and we hope it will obtain a wide circulation." 

* " Teaching is worse paid than any other kind of labour ; but it seems that when any par- 
ticular teacher becomes the rage, he takes revenge on the public, and ' puts money in his purse.' 
We see from an advertisement at the end of Herr Ollendorff's second volume, that he teache* 
J. German in London at the pleasant price of £12 12s. sterling per quarter!" 

New Orleans Commercial Times. 
"Mr. Ollendorff's r.ew method cf teaching languages — a method founded upon an 
analytical system, which simplifies and connects information, and proceeds by gradations frow 
the easy to the difficult — has found more favour among teachers than any previous system. It 
has been applied with the utmost success, and has elicited the approbation of the best minds ia 
the country. The system is one which it requires the patient study o/J-a German to elaborate, but 
when once framed, its results are practical, complete, and speedy of attainment. We have no 
doubt that an intelligent person will master the intricacies of the French tongue, by the assistance 
of this work, in half the time it would require to wade through the interminable exercises of 
Wnrj'»?Trocht and J^vi-rnr. " 

3 



D. Applet on fy Cq. 7 s Educational Publications 

Critical Opinions on Ollendorff's Method of Learning Languages. 

CONTINUED. 

New- York Commercial Advertiser. 

4i New Method of Learning the French Language. — This grammar must suj)en<ede 
•ill others now used for instruction in the French language. Its conception and arrangement are 
admirable, — the work evidently of a mind familiar with the deficiencies of the systems, the place 
■ >f which it is designed to supply. In all the works of the kind that have fallen under our notice, 
there has been so much left unexplained or obscure, and so many thi»gs have been omitted — 
trifles, perhaps, in the estimation of the author, but the cause of great embarrassment to the 
learner — that they have been comparatively valueless as self instructors. The student, deceived 
by their specious pretensions, has not proceeded far before he has felt himself in a condition simi- 
lar to that of a mariner who should put out to sea without a compass to direct, him. He ha« 
encountered difficulty after difficulty, to which his grammar afforded no clue; when, disap- 
,) noted and discouraged, he has either abandoned the study in disgust or if his means permitted, 
sorted te a teacher to accomplish what it was not in his power to effect by the aid of lira 
• sell-instructor.' 

" Ollendorff has passed his roller over the whole field of Fiench instruction, and the rugged 
inequalities formerly to be encountered no longer discourage the learner. What were the diflv 
catties of the language, are here mastered in succession ; and the only surprise of the student, as 
lie passes from lesson to lesson, is. that he meets none of these 'lions in the way.' 

"The value of the work has been greatly enhanced by a careful revision, and the addition of 
an appendix containing matter essential to its completeness either as a b'_H)k for the use of teachers 
or fur self-instruction." 

Buffalo Commercial Advertiser. 

" By Ollendorff's method, and its general use, applied to both the dead and living languages, 
we nope this reproach upon our country's character for elegant scholarship will be wiped away. 
When by reasonable application, a person of but ordinary attainments, and quickness of percep- 
tion, can easily acquire another tongue, it is a shame not to do so, and nothing will more essen- 
tially aid him, whether he turn his attention to the German, French, or Italian, than Ollendorff's 
system." 

Whiff Review. 

"Ollendorff's works on tlie German, French, and Italian, have met with marked approba- 
tion from those who are critical judges, and his system is pronounced ' the best, the only one of 
•lie kind fur all who desire a practical knowledge of the language/ " 

Catholic Magazine. 

" The elementary works of Ollendorff have met with the most ample encouragement and 
success in England, and so far as they have been tested, in America also ; and in hoth countries 
the use of them has become daily more extensive. * * * The -.'.istinguished feature 
in Ollendorff's method of imparting a knowledge of the language rs, that it follows that of na- 
ture lierself." 

.Yea? Haven Herald. 

" Ollendorff's French Method.— The same plan of teaching the principles of the lan- 
guage and their application is presented in this admirable text-book ar that developed in the. 
German method. It is the only correct system of teaching modern languages. 

"This method is in perfect accordance with the order of nature. In the old system, the 
learner does not commence speaking and writing the language until he is supposed to be acquainted 
with etymology and syntax. The rules are learned with difficulty, and amid unnecessary per- 
•'jxities, to be forgotten before their application is attempted; and consequently large numbers 
ntkamton the study as irksome and useless, instead of finding it pleasant and profitable, as they 
.vould, were it not for reversing the order of nature. 

" In this method, speaking and writing Fiench is commenced with the first lesson, continued 
br'iighout, and thus is made the efficient means of acquiring almost imperceptibly, a thorough 
kn »wledge of grammar; and this without diverting the learner's attention for a moment from 
the language itself, with which he is naturally most desirous of becoming familiar. 

" The general use of such a series of text-books will give us a very different class of French 
*<.-lKlars in this country. Our systems of learning the French language have been a mere bur- 
'tsque, instead of being at once a useful and ornamental branch of education. We most warmly 
recommend the Ollendorff series to teachers and all others interested, as philosophical and naturat 
in arrangement, and as the only text-books involving correct principles of acquiring anavailah.e 
knowledge of modern languages." 

United States Gazette. 
Ollendorff's Italian Grammar. — The system of learning and teaching the Kving Jan- 
fnages by O?lendorffrs so superior to all other modes, that in England and on the continent of 
fin rope, scarcely any other is in use, in well-directed academies and other institutions of learn- 
ing. To those who feel disposed to cultivate an acquaintance with Italian literature, this work 
will prove invaluable, abridging, by an Hamensedeal, the period ;omraonIy employed in studying 
0w> **<,'naes" 

4 



D. Appitltm Sf Co.'* EducaUoMil fublication*. 



Critical Opinions on Ollendorff s Method of Learning Language*. 

CONTINUED. 
XttD-York Courier and Enquirer 

" Ollendorff's Spanish Grammar. — This is another Bomber of the admirable series o. 
elementary books of instruction in the language of Modem Europe, for which the public is 
indebted to the Appletons. Ollendorff's method of teaching languages, especially living lan- 
guages, is now iu universal use, and enjoys a very decided pre-eminence over anv ; ther n">w in 
ase, inasmuch as it combines the merits, and av ids th.e faults nf all (.ther?, and has, besides, many 
\?cy marked and admirable peculiarities. No i ther b.*oks are a»»W in general use, and hi> ele- 
mentary treatises have w->u a unanimous favcr not often accorded to any work in anv depart 
meat of human knowledge. Their chief peculiarity consists intlm, that they lead the learner, 
by gradual steps, each perfectly simple and easy, from the first elements even to the nicest icii ins 
. f the various languages, comprehending, in the process, a complete mastery of Grammatical 
rules and colloquial phrases. They are in common use, n-;t only in this country, bat thr mgh-.-ut 
ijurope. and are likely to su]>ersede, every where, all similar works. 

"This method of learning Spanish, which has just been issued, is likely to be even m ;re 
widely useful, especially in this country, than those which have preceded it, since recent events 
have rendered a knowledge of Spanish mure than usually important to all classes of our people. 
The editors of the work are widely known as accomplished scholars and distinguished teachers, 
and the book derives still higher authority from their connection with it. We commend it with 
great confidence to all who desire to become acquainted with the Castiliau tongue." 

The Tribune. 
"The admirable system of teaching and learning modern languages, by Mr. Ollendorff, has 
attained a popularity and extension unprecedented in the history of education. Its effect upon 
the community of learners especiaily, is even now evident, and as time elapses will become still 
more so in the ease and correctness with which German. French, Italian, and Spanish are ac- 
quired and applied to the practical purposes of life. Mr. Ollendorff's books have now been some 
time before the public, not only in Europe, where he practically carries out the plans of instruc- 
tion, but also in America, where the system has been faithfully tried and is appreciated by our 
best teachers and by thousands of learners. The present work seems to be prepared by gentle- 
men thoroughly conversant with the system in all its details. It is well worthy the attention of 
those desirous to become familiar with the noble Castiliau tongue, that tongue which Charles V. 
once said those who spoke if used to speak like kings. The mechanical execution and appear- 
ance of the volume are in the usual style of clearness and beauty which characterizes Messrs. 
Appletcn's publications." 

Evening Post. 

" Ollendorff's Method Applied to Spanish — D. Appleton & Co. have published 
" Ollendorff's new method of learning to write and speak the Spanish language, by M. Velas- 
quez and S. T. Sinvnue. The authors of this work are experienced instructors in the Spanish 
language. To Mr. Velasquez, many of our citizens are indebted for their acquaintance with the 
harmonious and majestic dialect which its admirers delight in calling Castilian. 

"The meth; d of Ollendorff is admirably suited to many minds— to young persons in par- 
ticular, bv whom the peculiar forms of a language are most easily learned by practice and a mere 
effort of memory. To persons of any period of life it is useful in imparting an accurate acquaint- 
ance with the idioms and conversational peculiarities of a language, and nobody could go through 
the course prescribed by it without some essential improvement in the accuracy with which lie 
speaks the language. 

" The work is neatly got up as respects its typographical execution." 

Hun?* Merchant? 's Magazine. 

" Ollendorff's new method of Teaming to Read, Write, and Speak the German Lan- 
guage, with a systematic outline of German Grammar by George J. Adler, is one of those rare 
works which leave nothing to be desired on the subjects of which they treat. The learner'i 
difficulties are so fuliv and exactly provided for, that a constant sense of satisfaction and progress 
is felt from the beginning to the end of the book. A bare inspection of one of the lessons will 
satisfy any one acquainted with the elements of German grammar, that it adapts itself perfectly 
to his wants. With the systematic outline of grammar by Prof. Adler, the new method is sub- 
stantially perfect, and it is probably second in its advantages only to residence and intercourse 
with educated German?." 

Protestant Churchman. 

11 The study of the German is becoming so essential a part of an ordinary education, that 
every work tending to facilitate the acquisition of the language should be welcomed. An Ameri- 
can edition of Ollendorff has been much wanted. His system is based upon natural principles. 
He teaches by leading the student to the acquisition of phrases, from which he deduces the rules 
of the language. The idioms are also carefully taught, and the entire construction of the system 
is such that, if adhered to with lidelity and perseverance, it will secure such a practical know- 
ledge of the German as can be acquired by no other mode, so rapidly and thoroughly. We 
heartily commend the book to nil who really wish To understand a tongue which contains se 
\aany treasures." 



Appleton <5f Co-'s Educational Publications. 

OTctIFn art 

OF THE 

GERMAN AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES; 

INDICATING THE ACCENTUATION OF EVERY GERMAN WORD, CONTAINING SEVERAL 
HUNDRED GERMAN SYNONYMS, TOGETHER WITH A CLASSIFICATION AND 
ALPHABETICAL LI8T OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS, AND A DICTION- 
ARY' OF GERMAN ABBREVIATIONS. 

COMPILED FROM THE WORKS OF HILPERT, FLU GEL, GREIB, HEYSE, 

AND OTHERS. 

I N TWO P A RTS : 

I. GERMAN AND ENGLISH — II. ENGLISH AND GERMAN. 

BY G. J. ADLER, A. ML, 

Professor of the German Language and Literature in the University of the 
City of Xt;c-York. 

One large volume, 8vo , of 1400 pages Price $5. Strongly and neatly bound. 

Extract from the Preface. 

In preparing this volume, our principal aim was to offer to the American student of 
the German a work which would embody all the valuable results of the most recent 
investigations In German Lexicography, and which might thus become not only a relia- 
ble guide for the practical Requisition of that language, but one which would not forsake 
him in the higher walks of his pursuit, to which its literary and scientific treasures 
would naturally invite him. The conviction that such a work was a desideratum, and one 
which claimed immediate attention, was first occasioned by the steadily increasing inter- 
est manifested in the study of the German by such among us as covet a higher intellect- 
ual culture, as well as those who are ambitious to be abreast with the times in all that 
concerns the interests of Learning, Science. Art, and Philosophy. 

In comparing the different German-English Dictionaries, it was found that all of them 
were deficient in their vocabulary of foreign words, which now act so important a part 
not only in scientific works, but also in the best classics in the reviews, journals, news- 
papers, and even in conversational language of ordinary life. Hence we have endeav- 
oured to supply the desired words required in Chemistry, Mineralogy, Practical Art, 
Commerce, Navigation, Rhetoric, Grammar, Mythology, both ancient and modern. The 
accentuation of the German words, first introduced by Hernsius, and not a little improved 
by Hilpert and his coadjutors, has also been adopted, and will be regarded as a most de- 
sirable and invaluable aid to the student. Another, and it is hoped not the least, valu- 
able addition to the volume, are the synonyms, which we have generally given in an 
abridged and not unfrequently in a new form, from Hilpert, who was the first that offered 
to the English student a selection from the rich store of Eberhard, Maas, and Gruber. 
Nearly all the Dictionaries published in Germany having been prepared with special 
reference to the German student of the English, and being on that account incomplete in 
the German-English part, it was evidently our vocation to reverse the order for this side 
of the Atlantic, and to give the utmost possible completeness and perfection to the Ger- 
man part. This was the proper sphere of our labor. 

Morning Courier and New- York Enquirer. 

The Appletons have just published a Dictionary of the German Language, containing 
English names of German words, and German translations of English words, by Mr. 
Adler, Professor of German in the University of the City of New-York. 

In view of the present and rapidly increasing disposition of American students to make 
themselves familiar with the Language and Literature of Germany, the publication of 
this work seems especially timely and important. It is in form a large, substantial octavo 
Tolume of 1400 pages, beautifully printed in clear and distinct type, and adapted in every 
way to the constant services for which a lexicon is made. The purpose aimed at by the 
editor cannot be more distinctly stated than in his ow r n words, quoted from the preface, 
in which he states that he sought " to embody all the valuable results of the most recent 
investigations in German Lexicography, so that his work might thus become not only a 
reliable guide for the practical acquisition of that language, but one which would not 
forsake him in the higher walks of his pursuits, to which its literary treasures would 
naturally invite him." All who are in any degree familiar with German, can bear wit- 
ness to the necessity that has long been felt for such a work. It is needed by students of 
the language at every stage of their progress. None of those hitherto in use have been 
satisfactory — the best of them, that published in Philadelphia, in 1845, lacking verv many 
of the essentials of a reliable and servicable lexicon. From a somewhat close examina- 
tion of its contents, we are satisfied that Mr. Adler's Dictionary will be universally re» 
garded as the best extant. Its great superiority lies in its completeness, no word in any 
department of science or literature being omitted. We cannot doubt that it will become 
at once the only German lexicon in use throughout the country. 



D. Appleton fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 



THE 

STANDARD PROiNOUNCING DICTIONARY 

OF THE 

FRENCH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES. 

IN TWO FARTS. 
Part I. FRENCH AND ENGLISH.— Part II. ENGLISH AND FRENCH. 
The First Part comprehending words in common use — Terms connected with Science — 
Terms belonging to the Fine Arts — 4000 Historical Names — 4000 Geographical Name* — 1100 
teirns lately published, with the pronunciation of every word, according to the French 
Academy and the most eminent Lexicographers and Grammarians ; together with 750 Critical 
Remarks, in which the various methods of pronouncing employed by different authors are inves- 
tigated and compared with each other. 

The Second Part containing a copious vocabulary of English words and expressions, with 
the pronunciation according to Walker. 

the whole preceded by 

A Practical and Comprehensive System of French Pronunciation. 

By Gabriel Surenne, F. A. S. E., 

French Teacher in Edinburgh ; Corresponding Member of the French Grammatical Society 

of Paris, <$»c, <£-c. 

Reprinted from a duplicate cast of the stereotype plates of the last Edinburgh edition. 

One stout volume, 12mo., of nearly 'JOQ pages. Price $1 50. 

A FEW CRITir:iMS ON ITS MERITS. 

Kinderhook Academy, April 7, 1S47. 
Sunnne's French Dictionary i? ,+ many respects superior to those ol "Meadow" and 
" Boyer." The Proper Names at the bottom of each page, and the method of explaining the 
pronunciation, (by the French sounds of the vowels, with which the pupil has become familiar,) 
are in my opinion distinguishing excellences. SILAS METCALF. 

Princeton, Dec. 13, 1847. 
We use habitually the admirable Dictionary of Surenne. 

LYMAN COLEMAN. 
National Magazine. 
M This work must have been one of very great labour, as it is evidently of deep research. We 
have given it a careful examination, and are perfectly safe in saying, we have never before seen 
any thing of the kind at all to compare with it. Our space will not permit us to give more than 
this general testimony to its value. Long as the title is, and much as it promises, our examination 
Df the work proves that all the promises are fulfilled, and we think that no student of the French 
anguage should, for a moment, hesitate to possess himself of it. Nor, indeed, will it be found 
less useful to the accomplished French scholar, who will find in it a fund of information which 
can nowhere be met with in any one book. Such a work has for a long time, been greatly needed, 
and Mr. Surenne has supplied the deficiency in a masterly style. We repeat, therefore, our well 
digested opinion, that no one in search of a knowledge of the niceties of the French langnage, 
should be without it." 

New- York Observer. 
"Every student of the French language, and every person of taste who is fond of reading 
French, and wishes to become proficient in that tongue, should possess this comprehensive but 
complete dictionary. It embraces all the words in common use, *nd those in science and the 
fine arts, historical and geographical names, etc., with the pronunciation of every word according 
to the French Academy, together with such critical remarks as will be useful to every learner. 
It is published in a form of extreme condensation, and yet contains so full a compilation of words, 
definitions, etc., as scarcely to leave any thing to be desired." 

Boston Courier. 

" This is, we believe, the first French pronouncing dictionary that has appeared in the English 

field of French education, and the compiler, Mr. Surenne, may well felicitate himself on the de 

cided success which has attended his efforts to furnish us with this long expected desideratum 

Mr. S. has rendered precise what was before uncertain, clear what had hitherto been obscure, in 

short, put into the hands of both teachers and scholars, an authority \n philology and pronun 

ciation, as good, as correct, as authoritative as Johnson. Walker, or Webster, in the English 

tongue. The method adopted for representing the sounds of words, is for the English or American 

rye r nd ear, so that faultless pronunciation may be depended upon. The phraseology is often that 

of the French Academy, consequently of the highest authority, and is both copious and practical. 

The English pronunciation is precisely alter the* plan of Webster, imitated or followed with the 

scrupulous accuracy, thus giving two extraordinary advantages in one work, viz., a diction 

Delation, with w n\s and meanings, and a standard of English pronunciation 

teachers, parents, guardians, all interested in the education of youth, t<i 

uf industry rihI ingenuity, and they will see and <-. ■«.. gnix? It* miw 



ACCOMPANIMENT TO OLLENDORFF'S GERMAN GRAMMAR. 
D. Appleton § Co. Publish 

A PROGRESSIVE GERMAN READER 

PREPARED WITH REFERENCE TO 

OLLENDORFF'S GERMAN GRAMMAR, 

WITH COPIOUS NOTES AND A VOCABULARY. 

BY G. J. A D LE R, 

*rofe*$or of the German Language and Literature in the University of the City of JV*. T 
One neat Volume, 12ma $1- 

The favourable reception which Ollendorff's German Grammar ha* received from the American I 
aublic, has induced the Publishers and the Editor to comply with the very general demand foi 
1 German Reader. 

Complaints, more or less loud, have been made beth by teacher and learner, against most of the 
Readers heretofore offered to the public in this country, us well as In England and Germany 
Books of this kind now in the market, may be reduced to two clusses: 1st. Selections from Ik* 
German Classics, or FJegant F.itracts, corresponding somewhat to our English Headers. Of 
these, two deserve speciul in.tire, viz. George Muhl's Prose Anthology, (Carlsruhe and 
London. 18o ( J.) and in tin* country, FoLLEH'l German Header. The ohjections to the former 
xre, thai it contains no poems, mnl bailee lacks an essential element of an introduction to German 
Literature, and presents too little variety to the learner; it has, moreover, no vocabulary, and the 
most difficult passages are often left unnoticed in the annotations. The intter is, as it regards the 
variety and the good taata exhibited in its matter, fur superior to any other similar work, and has 
for many years been almost the only Header in use mnong us. To learners not classically edu 
sated, however, (and to many that nre,) the pieces near the beginning are by far too difficult, and 
tl»e assistance ton scanty. The arrungement is not progressive, so that pieces near the end of the 
book are much easier than many in the beginning or middle. 

2d. The second class of Renders are such as profess U> facilitate the business of reading. They 
are generally based on the Hamiltonian method, i. e., the pieces are accompanied with transla- 
tions, either interlinear and literal, or free and opposite. The difficulty with the books of this 
class is, that thev leave the learner where they found him, unable by himself to aocount for the 
grammatical construction of a sentence; and when he lays uside the book to take up another, he 
finds that it is one thing to read by the aid of a translation and quite another to read understand- 
ing^. The principal hooks of this class are Zimmers German Teacher, (Heidelberg and Lon- 
don, 1839,) Gaud's Literary Companion, (Frankfort, 184J.) better in its selections than the first, 
and Bokiim's German Reader, (Philadelphia.) 

The plan of this German Reader is as follows, viz.: 

1. The pieces are both prose and poetry, selected from the best authors, and are so arranged ai 
to present sufficient variety to keep alive the interest of the scholar. 

2. It is progressive in its nature, the pieces heing at first very short and easv, and increasing in 
difficulty and length as the learner advances. 

3 At the bottom of the page consta/it references to the Grammar nre made, the difficult pas 
sages are explained and rendered. To encourage the first attempt of the learner as much as possi- 
ble, the twent/-one pieces of the first section are analyzed, and all the necessary words given aJ 
t he bottom of the page. The notes, which at first a e very ubundnnr. diminish us the learner aaV 
ranees. 

4. It contains Jive sections. The first contains easy pieces, chiefly in prose, with all the words 
oecessary for translating them ; the second, short pieces in prose and poetry altern/ telj, with eo- 
pious notes and renderings ; the third, short popular tales of Grimm and others; tb fourth^ select 
ballads and other poems from Buerger, Goethe, Schiller, Uhland, Schw a, Cham is so 
fcc. ; the fifth, prose extracts from the first classics. 

f At tht end is added a vocabulary of all the words occurring in the book- 



1). AppleUm Sf Co.'s Educational Publications. 



ACCOMPANIMENT TO OLLENDORFF'S ITALIAN GRAMMAR. 



CRESTOMAZIA 1TALIANA: 

A COLLECTION OF 

SELECTED PIECES IN ITALIAN PROSE 

DESIGNED AS A 

CLASS READING-BOOK FOR BEGINNERS 

IN THE STUDY OF 

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE. 

By E. FELIX FORESTI, LL.D., 

rBOFESSOR OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN COLUMBIA COLLIOI 
AND IN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 

One neat Volume, l2mo. Price $1. 



South Carolinian. 

11 These selections are from different authors, and on various suhjects, exhibiting the manifold 
peculiarities of style and idiom found in this mellifluous tongae. Dr. Foresti has consulted the 
American taste of his readers, injudiciously selecting from the works of those authors who are 
most imbued with the liberal sentiments which belong to our own age and clime. He has done 
this to enlist the sympathy of the student, and thereby facilitate his progress in the language. 
This is a capital thought. We perceive that C. Botta is laid under contribution for two or three 
articles, in which some of our American worthies appear in Italian costume. A glossary accom- 
panies each lesson — anglicizing those idiomatic phrases which present peculiar difficulty to the 
student. As the work is a companion to Ollendorff's Italian Grammar, it will of course be 
adopted by all who adopt his unrivalled system of teaching or acquiring a foreign language." 

Savannah Republican. 

" The Italian Reader is compiled by Mr. Foresti, Professor of the Italian Language in the 
Columbia College and the University of New- York. It appears to be designed to follow the 
study of Ollendorff's Italian Grammar, on which work many correct judges have pronounced 
that no important improvement can well be made. In making selections for the book before us, 
Mr. Foresti kas preferred modern .Italian writers to the old school of novelists, historians, and 
poets. In this he has done a good thing ; for the Italian Reader contains the modern language. 
True, there are some innovations, some changes which many would deem a departure from ©*' 
ginal purity, but nevertheless it is the language which one finds and hears spoken in Italy. Theft* 
changes have gone on under the eye and against the stern authority of the Academy della Cruse*,, 
and in their magnificent new dictionary now in process of publication, they have found their 
selves compelled to insert many words which are the growth not only of modern necessity, be 
of caprice. 

"The selections in the Italian Reader are from popular authors, such as Botta, Manzon; 
Machiavelli, Villani, and others. They are so made as not to constitute mere exercises, but con 
tain distinct relations so complete as to gratify the reader and engage his attention while thej 
instruct. This is a marked improvement on that old system which exacted much labor without 
enlisting the sympathies of the student. The selections from Manzoni, for example, are from 
the " Promessi Sposi" one of the noblesr. works of fiction ever bsued from the press — a work 
so popular as to have gone th ough an incredible number of editions in Italy, while it has been 
translated into every language of Europe. There have been, we believe, no less than three dis- 
tinct English translations made, two or which were done in this country. Tne Reader contains 
«ix extracts from this novel, among which are the beautiful episodes of Father Cristoforo and 
the Nun of Monza. and a description of the famine and plague of Milan in the year 1630. Th© 
account of the plague rivals the celebrated <^ne of Bocaccio in his Decameron. The idion 3 thai 
recur in the sections arc explained by a glossary appended to each. The Italian Reaoer eai 
with confidence be recommended to students in the language as a safe and sure guide. Afte 
mastering it. the Italian poets and nther classicists may be anpoaehed with confidence ' 



J9. Appleton fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 
NEW MODERN FRENCH READER. 

MORCEAUX CHOISIES DES AUTEURS MODERNES, 

A LA USAGE DE LA JEUNESSE ; 

With a Vocabulary of the New and Difficult Words and Idiomatic Phraset 
adopted in Modern French Literature. 

By F. ROWAN. 

Edited by J. L. Jewktt, Editor of Ollendorff's French Method. 
One Volume, I2mc. 75 cents. 

The chief object of the present volume is to offer the means of making the youth acquainted 
with the French Language, as it is spoken in the present day, and as it is presented in the workj 
of the modern authors of France, without the risk of sullying the mind of the young reader, by 
an introduction to such scenes and principles, as but too often disgrace the pages of writers who 
would be an honor to humanity, were their moral qualities but equal to their genius. 

The second is to facilitate the task of the teacher, by endeavoring to render the work attractive 
in the eyes of the pupil ; and such selections have therefore been made, as will, it is hoped, be 
interesting and entertaining to the young reader, while, at the same time, they will prove worthy 
specimens of the peculiar style of their respective authors, and sufficiently demonstrate the great 
idiomatic revolution which has taken place in the French Language within the last quarter of a 
century. 

The American edition of the work is rendered still more valuable and interesting by the addi 
tion of extracts from the writings of Sismondi and Mignet, modern historians of distinguished 
merit. The vocabulary of new and difficult words and idiomatic phrases is also more convent 
ently arranged for reference, and considerably enlarged ; while the whole has undergone thorough 
revision, with a view to accuracy in every particular; and the orthography has been made to 
conform to that of the Dictionary of the Academy and the usage of modern writers. 

List of Authors. — Alex. Dumas, Alex, de Tocqueville, Alfred deVigney, Alph. Karr, Aug. 
Thierry, Bignon, Capetigue, De Balzac, De Lamartine, E. Souvestre, Eugene Sue, F. Soulie, 
Guizot, Gust, de Beaumont, Jules Janin, Leon Goslan, D'Aubigne, Merimee, Michelet, Sal 
vandy, Lavallee, Thiers, Victor Hugo, Villemain, Sismondi, Mignet. 



NEW ELEMENTARY FRENCH READER, 

AN 

INTRODUCTION TO THE FRENCH LANGUAGE: 

CO NT AT NINO 

Fables, Select Tales, Remarkable Facts, Amusing Anecdotes, etc. 

WITH 

A DICTIONARY 

OF ALL THE WORDS, TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH 

By M. De Fivas, Member of several Literary Societies. 

One neat Volume, lGmo. Price 50 cent*. 

This work has passed through five editions in England, and rapidly found its way as a olass 
book into the most eminent public and private seminaries. 

The pieces contained in this volume comprehend a great variety of subjects, and are generally 
of a lively and familiar style, the phrases will serve as elements of conversation, and enable th» 
student to read with facility other French books. 

In the Dictionary at the end, is given the meaning of every word contained in the book. 

The explanatory words are placed at the end of the book, instead of at lhe foot of the page: 
by this metnod learners wil derive considerable benefit. 

Though this work is designedly for the use of schools, the author lias bone in mind, tl\ 
many of the learners of French are adults, therefore while it is adapted f .r youthft. students, .. 
endeavor has also been mnde to make it acceptable to those ufmorp advanced »<«*. 

10 



D. Appleto?i fy Co. 7 s Educational Publications. 



NEW DRAMATIC FRENCH READER. 



CHEES-D'(EUVRES DRAMATIQUES 

DE LA 

LANGUE FRANCAISE. 

Mis en Ordre Progressif, et Annotes, pour en faciliter L' Intelligence. 
Par A. G. COLLOT, 

Professeur de Langucs et de Litterature. 
One Volume. l2mo of 520 pages. Price $1. 

Courier and Enquirer. 

" We have examined this book with great interest, and can confidently recommend it to stu- 
dents and teachers of the French language, as better adapted to the purposes of a reading-book 
than any other with which we are acquainted. It is made up of fourteen complete dramas, 
taken from the works of the best and purest writers, among which are the great names of Cor- 
ueille, Racine, Moliere. and Piron. The pieces are systematically arranged in progressive order, 
and the idiomatical difficulties of the language are fully and clearly explained in the notes. To 
those who are desirous of speaking French this book is invaluable, as the conversational and 
idiomatic phrases, so indispensable tj this accomplishment, are met with on every page ; and to 
those who wish to cultivate their taste, and to obtain a knowledge not only of the French Ian 
guage, but of the writings of its most eminent dramatists, this volume will supply the place of 
voluminous collections not easy to be obtained. Its typographical accuracy and appearance hat 
seldom been equalled in any Frencli book that has heretofore issued from the press of this 
country." 

Christian Examiner. 

u This book is maae up of pieces of progressive difficulty, as exercises in the study of French. 
We have first a Proverb or two in the simplest style, with foot-notes explanatory of idiomatic 
phrases ; then a couple of Berquin's pieces, intended for learners ; then some half dozen of 
Scribe's popular dramas, full of action, and exhibiting many peculiarities of French manners and 
.anguage ; Moliere's Misanthrope ; Voltaire's Merope ; Racine's Athalie ; and, lastly, the Cinna 
of Corneille — all entire; which is, certainly, an improvement on all other French reading-books, 
the fragmentary style of which has often vexed us. The whole appears to us admirably adapted 
for its purpose." 

Tribune. 

4i This work is intended as a reading-book for students of the French language ; and for two 
very important reasons, we consider it better adapted to its purpose, and likely to be of far 
greater utility, than any other that has hitherto been compiled. First, the language is easy, the 
constructions are simple, and the whole is in the form of dialogue, the only kind of reading that 
can afford the scholar any efficient aid in speaking French. Secondly, the engrossing interest of 
the most elegant and vivacious drama now in existence is brought to the aid of the student in 
enabling him to endure with patience the labour necessary to perform his task. There is little 
fear that any one who has read twenty pages of this book will ever lay it down until he has 
mastered its entire contents. Professor Collot has been remarkably successful in his selection, 
and the pieces are in every respect unexceptionable, and well adapted to varieties of taste. The 
humour of Moliere, the beautiful comedies of Scribe and Berquin, and the tragic grandeur and 
pathos of a Corneille, a Racine, and a Voltaire, need no recommendation." 

Protestant Churchman. 
" This new French reader is precisely the kind of book which an intelligent teacher of the 
language will desire to place in the hands of his advanced pupils. At Jeast such is our opinion. 
The selections are made with great j udgment, and consist not of mere disjointed fragments, but of 
entire works of the best dramatic authors, in sufficient variety, g from grave to gay, from lively to 
Revere.' While they offer peculiar facilities for acquiring the language, by a free exhibition oi 
all its peculiarities, their effect upon the literary taste of the student must be no less salutary." 

Evening J\tirror. 
li The dramatic pieces embraced in this volume are all complete, and they comprise some of 
the best and most unexceptionbale performances of Berquin, Scribe, Piron, Moliere, Voltaire, 
Racine, and Corneille, arranged so that the learner takes up first those which present the fewest 
iifficnlties, and then advances to the higher departments of dramatic writing. The dramatic 
portion of French literature is generally considered its best. Such a book as this, therefore, k 
necessary for every student who wishes to become acquainted with the master-pieces of the 
Wench writers " 

11 



D. Appleton fy Co.'s Educational FuMcatioxs. 

ARNOLD'S CLASSICAL SERIES 

A FIRST AND SECOND LATIN BOOK 
And Practical Grammar. By Thomas K. Arnold, A.M. Revised \ 

fully Corrected, by J. A. Spencer, A.M. One vol. l2mo., 75c 

II. 

LATIN PROSE COMPOSITION: 

A Practical Introduction to Latin Prose Composition. By Thomas K. \ 

A.M. Revised and Corrected by J. A. Spencer, A.M. 12mo. $ 

III. 

A FIRST GREEK BOOK ; 

With Easy Exercises and Vocabulary. By Thomas K. Arnold, A.fll 
vised and Corrected by J. A. Spencer, A.M. l2mo. 62£ cts. 

IV. 

GREEK PROSE COMPOSITION : 

A Practical Introduction to Greek Prose Composition. By Thomas 1 
nold, A.M. Revised and Corrected by J. A. Spencer, A.M. 
One volume, 12mo. 75 cts. 

V. 

GREEK READING BOOK, 

For the Vse of Schools; containing the substance of the Practical Introdi 
to Greek Construing, and a Treatise on the Greek Particles, by the Rt 
Thomas K. Arnold, A.M., and also a Copious Selection from Greek 
Authors, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, and a 
Lexicon, by J. A. Spencer, A.M. One vol. l2mo. $1 50. 

VI. 

CORNELIUS NEPOS ; 

With Practical Questions and Answers, and an Imitative Exercise on each 

Chapter. By Thomas K. Arnold, A.M. Revised, with Additional 

Notes, by Prof. Johnson, Professor of the Latin Language 

in the University of the City of New- York. L2mo. 

A new, enlarged edition, with Lexicon, Index, etc. $1 00. 

41 Arnold's Greek and Latin Series. — The publication of this valuable collection of 
classical school books may be regarded as the presage of better things in respect to the mode of 
teaching and ace uiring languages. Heretofore boys have been condemned to the drudgery of going 
over Latin and Greek Grammar without the remotest conception of the value of what they were 
learning, and everyday becoming more and more disgusted with the dry and unmeaning ta.sk ; but 
now, by Mr. Arnold's admirable meth. d— substantially the same with that of Oriendorif— the mo- 
ment they take up the study of Latin or Greek, they begin to learn sentences, to acquire ideas, to see 
how the Romans and Greeks expressed themselves, how their mode of ex pression differed from ours, 
*nd by degrees they lay up a stock of knowledge which is utterly astonishing to those who have 
>ragged on month after month in the old-fashioned, dry. and tedious way of learning languages. 

"Mr. Arnold, in fact, has had the good sense to adopt the system of nature. A child learns 
his own language by imitating what he hears, and constantly repeating it till it is fastened in 
the memory ; in the same Avay Mr. A. puts tlie pupil immediately to work at Exercises in Latin 
and Greek, involving the elementary principle* of the language — words are supplied — the mode 
of putting then? together is told the pupil — he is shown how the ancients expressed their ideas: 
and then, by repeating these things again and again — iterum itcmmqve — tlie docile pupii U&n 
then indelibly impressed upon his memory and rooted in his understanding. 

"The American Editor is a thorough classical scholar, and has been a practical teacher fo? 
years ra this city. He has devoted the utmost care to a complete revision of Mr. Arnold's woiks, 
has corrected several errors of inadvertence or otherwise, has rearranged and improved varion? 
matters in the early volumes of the seines, and has attended most diligently to the accurate print- 
ing and mechanical execution of the whole. We anticipate most confidently the speedy adoj>- 
ion of these woiks in our schools and college. ' — Covr. &• F.vq. 

%* Arnold's Series of Classical Works has attained a cirt ulation almost unjrarallaled in Eng 
a*/?. hem? introduced intrmea rlv »N tlipjfreaf PaliK*: £*clti><>lg: nd leading Education?*' Institutions 



D, Appleton fy Co. y s Educational Publicanons. 

ARNOLD'S CLASSICAL SERIES. 

OPINIONS OF SCHOLARS. 

Princeton, December 3, 1846. 
Gektlkmbn,— In reply to your letter, I have to say that I can, from the most satisfactory 
trpsrience, bear testimony to the excellence of your series of Text Books for Schools. I am ii 
the daily use of Arnold's Latin and Greek Exercises, and consider them decidedly superior to an* 
l.her Elementary Works in those Languages. LYMAN COLEMAN, D., D., 

Prof, of the German, Greek, and Latin Languages. 



Diar Sir, — I am much pleased with Arnold's Latin Books. A class of mj" older boys 
have just finished the first and second books. They had studied Latin for a long time before 
bnt never understood it, they say, a* <hey do now. CHAS. M. BLAKE, 

di^sical Teacher'in Brown's Prince-street Academy, Philadelphia. 

Arnold's Lessons i Latin I find unsurpassed ; and, if the Greek Lessons by the same 
author shall prove as useful, they will form the commencement of a new era in the study of the 
classics in this country. I wish you abundant success in so noble an enterprise as furnishing our 
schools and scholars with such valuable books. SETH DAVIS, 

Rector of Zion's Church, Rome. 



Arnold's Latin and Greek Composition. In the skill with which he sets forth the 
idiomatic peculiarities, as well as in the directness and simplicity with which he states the facts 
of the Ancient Languages, Mr. Arnold has no superior. I know of no books so admirably 
adapted to awaken an interest in the study of language, or so well fitted to lay the foundation 
of a correct scholarship and refined taste. N. WHEELER, 

Principal Worcester County High School. 



Messrs. Appleton : Penn. College, Gettysburg. Oct. 29, 1846. 

Dear Sirs, — The friends of education are under great obligations to you for the valual.'e service 
you have rendered by the recent publication of Arnold's Cornelius Nepos. 1 have examined 
the edition with much interest, and it gives me pleasure to say that I highly approve of it. A 
^ext-book prepared by a man so distinguished for scholarship, experience, and success in teaching, 
as Dr. Arnold, cannot fail to secure universal favor. The mechanical execution, and the great 
accuracy which prevails throughout, are highly creditable to the American editor and th* 
publisher. 

I have determined to introduce the edition at once into the Academical Department ">f 
Pennsylvania College, and have accordingly directed our book merchants to procure copies 

Respectfully, yours, 

M. L. STOERER, A. M., 

Proj. of History in Pennsylvania College, and Principal of the Academical Department. 



Messrs. Appleton & Co. : Oakland High School, April 28, 1846. 

Gentlemen, — I acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of T. K. Arnold's First and 
Second Latin Book, and his Introduction to Latin Prose Composition. The style in which the 
books are got up is not their only recommendation. With thorough instruction, on the part of 
the teacher using these books as text-books, I am confident a much more ample return for the 
time and labor bestowed by our youth upon Latin must be secured. The time certainly has 
come when an advance must be made upon the old methods of instruction. I am glad to have 
a work that promises so many advantages as Arnold's First and Second Latin Book to begin 
I have little doubt of the result of the experiment. Very respectfully, 

A. B. RUSSELL. 

t.rJractfrom a Report of an Examination of the .Male Department of the Parochial School oj 
St. Paul's Church, Rome, JST. Y., on Friday, March 26, 1847. 

* * * * " But were we to single out any part of the examination as worthy of special notice 
\ would be that upon " Arnold's First Book in Latin." Many an Academician, who ha* 
ttudied Latin in the ordinary way for two years, could not sustain an examination as did the 
lads of this class, who have studied Arnold's First Lessons only about six months. Arnold's 
method is admirable for making thorough scholars and accurate grammaiians ; but then it needi 
a thorough and industrious teacher to use it to advantage. Such, evidently, is Mr. Piatt. He 
has not been content to put his pupils upon writing out the exercises, but they bp.ve been 
"equired to commit thoroughly to memory the vocabulary of words in each iesson, beginning wili. 
■ouns and verbs ; and as soon as they have learned the words they begin to make sentences 
Then thev learn occasionally a declension, and immediately are made to put it to use by con 
*tructing sentences that require the cases of that declension A similar method was pursued is 
the English Grammar and in the French ' 



D. Appleton Sf Co.'s Educational Publications. 



LINCOLN'S LIVY. 



TITUS LIVIUS. 

CHIEFLY FROM THE TEXT OF ALSCHEFSKT, 

WITH 

ENGLISH NOTES, GRAMMATICAL AND EXPLANATORY, 

TOGETHER 

WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL INDEX. 
BY J. L. LINCOLN, 

Professor (if Latin in Brown University. 

WITH AN ACCOMPANYING FLAN OF ROME, AND A MAP OF THE PASSAGE OF HANNIBAL. 

One Volume, 12mo. Price $1. 

The publishers believe that, in the edition of Livy herewith announced, a want is supplied 
which has been universally felt ; there being previous to this no American edition furnished witr 
the requisite apparatus for the inooesffnl prosecution of the study of this Latin author. 

The extracts selected for this edition will secure the material for an amount of reading in Livy 
equal to that which is accomplished in any of our colleges, and comprise the finest as well as the 
most useful and interest ing pas>agcs in the writings of the great Latin historian. They are taken 
chiefly from the first five books (the first nearly entire), trhe twenty-first, twenty -second, and the 
subsequent books on the Second Punic War, with such other portions as could be introduced with- 
out increasing the volume beyond the size suited to its intended purpose. ^ 

The text is based upon that of Drakenborsch, with some changes from subsequent editors, and 
especially, in the earlier books, from the recent valuable work of Dr. Alschefski, of Berlin, of which 
the first volume was published in 1841, the second in J843, and the third has just appeared. 

The notes consist of selections from the best commentators, as Drakenborsch, Crevier, &c, anil 
smaller school editions ; and, to a considerable extent, of original matter, embodying the results 
of the editor's own labors and experience in reading Livy with his classes in college. 

OPINIONS OF CLASSICAL PROFESSORS. 

From Professor Kingsley, of Yale College. 

" I have not yet been able to read the whole of your work, but have examined it enough to be 

satisfied that it is judiciously prepared, and well adapted to the purpose intended. We use it for 

the present year, in connection with the edition that has been used for several years. Most of the 

Ciass, however, have procured your edition ; and it is probable that next year it will be used by all." 

From Professor Tyler, of Amherst College. 

"The notes seem to me to be prepared with much care, learning and taste, the grammatical 
illustrations are unusually full, faithful and able. The book has been used by our Freshman Claw, 
and will I doubt not come into general use in our colleges." 

From Professor Packard, of Bowdoin College. 
" I have recommended your edition to our Freshman Class. I have no doubt that your labors 
will give a new impulse to the study of this charming classic." 

From Professor Anderson, of Water oi lie College. 

" A careful examination of several portions of your work has convinced me that for the use of 
students it is altogether superior to any edition of Livy with which I am acquainted. Among iti 
excellences you will permit me to name, the close attention given to particles — to the subjunctive 
mood — the constant references to the grammars — the discrimination of words nearly synonymous, 
and the care in giving the localities mentioned in the text. The book will be hereafter used in our 
college.' ' 

From Professor Johnson, of Nrw-York University. 

"lean at present only say that your edition pleases me much. I shall give it to o»« of wej 
elasMS next week. I am prepared to find it just what was wanted." 



D. Applelon fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 



SPENCER'S CAESAR. 



C. JULIUS CAESAR'S commentaries 



GALLIC WAR. 

WITH ENGLISH NOTES, CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY ; A LEXICON, 
GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL INDEXES, &c. 

By the REV. J. A. SPENCER, A. M ., 
Editor of •' Arnold's Series of Greek and Latin Books" etc. 

One handsome vol. 12mo, with Map. Price $1. 

1 The press of Messrs. Appleton is becoming prolific of superior editions of the classics used in 
»c\iools, and the volume now before us we are disposed to regard as one of the most beautiful and 
highly finished among them all, both in its editing and its execution. The classic Latin in which the 
greatest general and the greatest writer of his age recorded his achievements, has been sadly cor- 
rupted in the lapse of centuries, and its restoration to a pure and perfect text is a work requiring 
nice discrimination and sound learning. The text which Mr. Spencer has adopted is that of 
Oudendorp, with such variations as were suggested by a careful collation of the leading critics of 
Germany. The notes are as they should be, designed to aid the labors of the student, not to super- 
?ede them. In addition to these the volume contains a sketch of the Life of Caesar, a brief Lexicon 
jf Latin words, a Historical and a Geographical Index, together with a map of the country in 
which the great Roman conqueror conducted the campaigns he so graphically describes. The 
volume, as a whole, however, appears to be admirably suited to the purpose for which it was 
designed. Its style of editing and its typographical execution reminds us of Professor Lincoln's 
excellent edition of Livy — a work which some months since had already passed to a second im- 
pression, and has now been adopted in most of the leading schools and colleges of the country." — 
Providence Journal. 

A NEW SPANISH READER. 

CONSISTING OF 

PASSAGES FROM THE MOST APPROVED AUTHORS, IN PROSE AND VERSE, 

ARRANGED IN PROGRESSIVE ORDER ; 

For the use of those who wish to obtain easily, a Practical Knowledge of the 

Castilian Language ; with Plain Rules, for its Pronunciation > Notes 

Explanatory of the Idioms and difficult Constructions, 

and a Copious Vocabulary. 

BEING A SEQUEL TO OLLENDORFF'S METHOD OF LEARNING TO READ, WRITE, AND SPEAK 
THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. 

BY MARIANO VELAZQUEZ DE LA CADENA, 

Editor of Ollendorff's Spanish Grammar. One neat vol. 12mo. Price $1.25. 
This book being particularly intended for the use of beginners, has been prepared with three 
objects in view, namely : to furnish the learners with pleasing and easy lessons, progressively 
deveiopingthe beauties and difficulties of the Spanish language ; secondly, to enrich their minds with 
select instruction; and thirdly, to form their character, by instilling correct principles into their 
hearts. In order, therefore, to obtain the desired effect, the extracts have been carefully selected 
from such classic Spanish writers, both ancient and modern whose style is generally admitted to be 
a pattern of elegance, combined with idiomatic purity and sound morality. — Extract from Preface. 

D. A. <Sf Co. Have in Preparation. 

De Fivas' Advanced French Reader. 

Cicero's Select Orations, with Notes ; By Prof. Johnson. 

Cicero De Senectute Et De Amicitia, with Notes ; By Prof. Johnson. 

Cicero Dk Officiis, with Notes ; By Prof. Thatcher. 

Horatii Opera, with Notes ; By Prof. Lincoln. 

Sallust's Catiline and Jugurtha, with Notes ; By Noble Butler, M. A. 

Professor Green's Historical Series. 

Professor Howes' Shakesperian Readkr. 



D. Appleton Sf Co.'s Educational Publications. 
BOJESEN AND ARNOLD'S 

MANUALS of GREEK and ROMAN ANTIQUITIES 



A MANUAL OF GRECIAN ANTIQUITIES. # 

BY DR. E. F. BOJESEN, 

Professor of the Greek Language and Literature in the University of Soro. 

Translated from the German. 

EDITED, WITH NOTES AND A COMPLETE SERIES OF QUESTIONS, BY THE REV. THOMAS 

K. ARNOLD, M. A. 

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, REVISED WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS 

One neat volume, 12mo. Price 62A cents. 

A MANUAL OF ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. 

WITH A SHORT 

HISTORY OF ROMAN LITERATURE. 

BY DR. E. F. BOJESEN. 

EDITED BY THOMAS K. ARNOLD, M.A. 
One neat volume. 12mo. Price G'2A cents. 
V THE ABOVE TWO VOLUMES BOUND IN ONE. PRICE $1. 
Trte present manuals of Greek and Roman Antiquities are far superior to any thing on the same 
topics as yet offered to the American public. A principal Review of Germany says of the Roman 
Manual : — " Small as the compass of it is, we may confidently affirm that it is a great improvement 
(on all preceding works of the kind). We no longer meet with the wretched old method, in which 
subjects essentially distinct are herded together, and connected subjects disconnected, but have a 
sim j\e, systematic arrangement, by which the reader easily receives a clear representation of Roman 
life. We no longer stumble against countless errors in detail, which, though long ago assailed and 
extirpated by Niebuhr and others, have found their last place of refuge in our Manuals. The 
recent investigations of Philologists and jurists have been extensively, but carefully and circum- 
spectly used. The conciseness and precision which the author has every where prescribed to himself, 
prevents the superficial observer from perceiving the essential superiority of the book to its prede 
cessors, but whoever subjects it to a careful examination will discover this on every page." 

The Editor says : — " I fully believe tbat the pupil will receive from these little works a correct 

and tolerably complete picture of Grecian and Roman life ; what T may call the political por 

&ions — the account of the national constitutions and their effects— appear to me to be of great 

value ; and the very moderate extent of each volume admits of its being thoroughly mastered — of 

^ it* being got up and retained." 

From Professor Lincoln, of Brown University. 
I found on my table after a short absence from home, your edition of Bojesen ^ Greek and Ro- 
man Antiquities. Pray accept my acknowledgments for it. I am agreeably surprised to find on 
examining it, that within so very narrow a compass ftr so comprehensive a subject, the book con- 
tains so much valuable matter, and indeed so far as I see, omits noticing no copies essential. 
It will be a very useful book in Schools and Colleges, and it is far superior to any thing that I 
know of the same kind. Besides being cheap and accessible to all students it has the great merit of 
discussing its topics in a consecutive and connected manner." 

16 



D» Appleton <$p Co.'s Educational Publications* 

A MANUAL OF ANCIENT AND MODERN HISTORY? 

COMPRISING 

I. Ancient History, containing the Political History, Ideographical Position, and Social Slat* 
:>f the Principal Nations of Antiquity, carefully digested from the Ancient Writers, and illua 
Irated by the discoveries of Modern Scholars and Travellers. 

II. Modern History, containing the Rise and Progress of the Principal European Nations, 
their Political History, and the Changes in their Social Condition ; with a History of the Colo 
nies Founded by Europeans. By W. Cooke Taylor, LL. I)., of Trinity College, Dublin. Re- 
vised, with Additions on American History, by C. S. Henry, D. I)., Professor of History in the 
University of N Y., and Questions adapted for the Use of Schools and College*. One handsome 
»oL, 8vo., of 800 pages, $-2.25; Ancient History in I vol., $1,25, Modern History in 1 \ol., $1,50 

The Ancient History division comprises Eighteen Chapters, which include the general out- 
lines of the history of Egypt — the Ethiopians — Babylonia and Assyria — Western Asia — Palestine 
—the Empire of the Medes and Persians — Phoenician Colonies in Northern Africa — Foundation 
and History of the Grecian States — Greece — the Macedonian Kingdom and Empire — the Stale* 
that arose from the Dismemberment of the Macedonian Empire — Ancient Italy — Sicily — the Uo 
man Republic — Geographical and Political Condition of the Roman Empire — History of the Ro- 
man Empire— and India — with an Appendix of important illustrative articles. 

This portion is one of the best Compends of Ancient History that ever yet has appeared. It 
contains a complete text for the collegiate lecturer ; and is an essential hand-book for the student 
vho is desirous to become acquainted with all that is memorable in general secular archaeology 

The Modern History portion is divided into Fourteen Chapters, on the following general 
subjects : — Consequences of the Fall of the Western Enfpire — Rise and Establishment of the 
Saracenic Power — Restoration of the Western Empire — Growth of the Papal Power— Revival of 
Literature — Progress o v ' Civilization and Invention — Reformation, and Commencement of the 
States System in Europe — Augustan Ages of England and France — Mercantile and Colonial Sya 
tern — Age of Revolutions — French Empire— History of the Peace — Colonization — China — the 
Jews — with Chronological and Historical Tables and other Indexes. Dr. Henry has appended a 
new chapter on the History of the United States. 

This Manual of Modern History, by Mr. Taylor, is the most valuable and instructive work 
concerning the general subjects which it comprehends, that can be found in the whole department 
of historical literature. Mr. Taylor's work is fast superseding all other compends, and is already 
adopted as a text-book in Harvard, Columbia, Yale, New York, Pennsylvania, and Brown Uni- 
versities, and several leading Academies. 

GESENIUS' HEBREW GRAMMAR, 

FOURTEENTH EDITION, AS REVISED BY DR. E. RODIGER. 

Translated by T. J. Conant, Professor of Hebrew in Madison University, N. Y 

With the Modifications of the Editions subsequent to tlie Eleventh, 

By Dr. Da vies, of Stepney College, London. 

To which are added, A Course of Exercises in Hebrew Grammar, and a Hebrew 

Uhrestomaihy, prepared by the Translator. One handsomely printed volume, 8vo. Price £2 

Extract from the Translator's Prefatto. 

"The fourteenth edition of the Hebrew Grammar of Gesenius is now offered to the public by 
the translator of the eleventh edition, by whom this work was first made accessible to student* in 
the English language. The conviction expressed in bis preface to that edition, that its publica 
tion in this country would subserve the interests of Hebrew literature, has been fully sustained by 
the result. After a full trial of the merits of this work, both in America Qfid in England, its re 
publication is now demanded in its latest and most improved form. 

"Of the general charncter of this grammar it is unnecessary to speak. It passed through 
thirteen editions with continual improvements frora the author's own hand. The fourteenth edi 
tion was prepared, r.fter the death of Gesenius, by his friend and former pupil, Prof. Rodiger, one 
of the most accurate oriental scholars of the age. who for some time lectured on Hebrew Grnmmai 
in the University at Halle, with the work of Gesenius for his text-book. Traces of his accurate 
scholarship are found, in the form of corrections and additions, in every part of the work ; anc 
dome portions have been re-written, but on the same general philological principles, and in the 
same spirit as the preceding editions. 

" The exercises, which follow the translation, are designed to facilitate the study of the gram 
mar. They were prepared after several years' observation, as a teacher, of the difficulties which 
embarrass the student in hit first attempt to learn an oriental language. They have been used 
writh great advantage by a teacher under my direction during the last seven years, and by teachem 
in other Institutes. 

"The notes to the Chrestomnthy have been preoared on the plan which every teacher of expe- 
rience will appreciate, of re-printing nothing w'lich it contained in the grammar; and what it 
equally important, of repeating nothing which hiu once been stated and learned. On a different 
plan, the same amount of information might easily have been extended over a hundred pager 
and with no other effect than to retaid the real proficiency of the learner. The Exercise* ante 
Chrestomathy have been carefully revised, and the numerous references, in which it it l>&!'<a*e' 
wt an error -Ptnaint. have been adapted U> this edition of the frararaar 



D. Appkton <$• Co.'s Educational Jfubhcatimu 
A NEW SCHOOL AND REFERENCE DICTIONARY. 



DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 

CONTAINING TIIK 

PRONUNCIATION, ETYMOLOGY, AND EXPLANATION 

OF ALL WORDS AUTHORIZED BY EMINENT WRITERS; 

TO WHICH ARK ADDED, 

A VOCABULARY OF THE ROOTS OF ENGLISH WORDS, 
AND AN ACCENTED LIST OF GREEK, LATIN, AND SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES 

BY ALEXANDER REID, A.M., 

Rector of the Circus School, Edinburgh. 
WITH A CRITICAL PREFACE, 

BY HENRY REED, 

Professor of English Literature in the University of Pennsylvania, 

AND 

AN APPENDIX, 

Showing the Pronunciation of nearly 3000 of the most important Geographical Names. 
(Xie volume 12mo, of near 600 pages, neatly bound in leather. Price $1 00 

Among the wants of onr time was a good Dictionary of our own language, especially adapted 
for academies and schools. The books which have long been in use were of little value to the 
Sininr students, being too concise in the definitions, and immethodical in the arrangement. 
Reid's English Dictionary was compiled expressly to develop the precise analogies and varioui 
properties of the authorized words in general use, by the standard authors and oratory who us« 
our vernacular tongue. 

Exclusive of the large numbers of proper names which are appended, this Dictionary in 
eludes four especial improvements — and when their essential value to the student is considered, 
the sterling character of the work as a hand-book of our language will be instantly perceived. 

The primitive word is distinguished by a larger type ; and where there are any derivatives 
rom it, they follow in alphabetical order, and the part of speech is appended, thus furnishing a 
complete classification of all the connected analogous words of the same species. 

With this facility to comprehend accurately the determinate meaning of the English word, i» 
conjoined a rich illustration for the linguist. The derivation of all the primitive words is dis- 
tinctly given, and the phrases of the languages whence they are deduced, whether composite or 
simple ; so that the student of foreign languages, both ancient and modern, by a reference to 
any word, can ascertain the source whence it has been adopted into our own form of speech. 
This is a great acquisition to the person who is anxious to use words in their utmost clearness of 
meaning. 

To these advantages is subjoined a Vocabulary of the Roots of English Words, which is of 
peculiar value to the collegian. The fifty pages which it includes, fhrnish the linguist with a 
Wide-spread field of research, equally amusing and instructive. There is also added an Accented 
List, to the number of fifteen thousand, of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names. 

With such novel attractions, and wi'.h such decisive merits, the recommendations which are 
prefixed to the work by Professors Frost, Henry, Parks, and Reed, Messrs. Baker and Greene, 
principals of the two chief grammar schools at Boston, and by Dr. Reese, Superintendent of 
Common Schools for the city and cor sty of New- York, are justly due to the lab >rs of the au • 
thor. They fully corroborate th? opinion expressed by several other competent authorities, that 
"Reid's English Dictionary is peculiarly adapted for the use of schools and families, and is fai 
mpexior to any other existing similar compilation." 

18 



D* Appleton fy CoSs Educational Publicaxhons. 

ENGLISH SYNONYMES, 

CLASSIFIED AND EXPLAINED, 

WITH 

PRACTICAL EXERCISES. 

DESIGNED FOR SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE TUITION 
By G. F. G RAH AM, 

Author of 4 English, or the Art of Composition/ Sea. 
WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND ILLUSTRATIVE AUTHORITIES 

B y H E N R Y REED, LL. D., 

Prof, of English Literature in the University of Penn. 

One neat Vol. 12mo. $1. 

CONTENTS. — Section I. (Generic and Specific Synonymes.) II. (Active 
and Passive Synonymes.) III. (Synonymes of Intensity.) IV. (Positive 
and Negative Synonymes.) V. (Miscellaneous Synonymes.) Index to 
Synonymes. General Index. 

Extract from American Introduction. 
'This treatise is republished and edited with the hope that it will be found useful as a text-book 
.'n the study of our own language. As a subject of instruction, the study of the English tongue 
does not receive that amount of systematic attention which is due to it, whether it be combined 01 
no with the study of the Greek and Latin. In the usual courses of education, it has no lar^M 
scope than the study of some rhetorical principles and practice and of grammatical rules, which, 
for the most part, are not adequate to the composite character and varied idiom of English speech. 
This is far from being enough to give the needful knowledge of what is the living language, both 
of our English literature and of the multiform intercourse — oral and v ritten — of our daily live*. 
The language deserves better care and more sedulous culture ; it neev.s much more to preserve its 
parity and to guide the progress of its life. The young, instead of having only such familiarity 
with their native speech as practice without method or theory gives, should be so taught and 
trained as to acquire a habit of using words — whether with the voice or the pen — fitly and truly, 
intelligently and conscientiously. 

" For such training this book, it is believed, will prove serviceable. The 'Practical Extrc\s*9? 
attached to the explanations of the words, are conveniently prepared for the routine of instruction. 
ITie value of a eourse of this kind, regularly and carefully completed, will be more than tke 
amount of information gained respecting the words that are explained. It will tend to produce a 
thoughtful and accurate use of language, and thus may be acquired, almost unconsciously, thai 
which is not only a critical but a moral habit of mind — the habit of giving utterance tc truth in 
simple, clear and precise terms — of telling one's thoughts and feelings in words thatexpres3 nothing 
more and nothing less. It is thus that we may learn how to escape the evils of vagueness 
obscurity and perplexity — the manifold mischiefs of words used thoughtlessly and at random, oi 
words used in ignorance and confusion. 

"In preparing this edition, it seemed to me that the value and literary interest of the book might 
ra increased by the introduction of a series of illustrative authorities. It is in the addition ol 
these authorities, contained within brackets under each title, and also of a general index to facili- 
tate reference, that this edition differs from the original edition, which in other respects is exactly 
reprinted. I have confined my choice of authorities to poetical quotations, chiefly because it is in 
poetry that language is found in its highest purity and perfection. The selections have been 
made from three of the English poets — each a great authority, and each belonging to a different 
period, so that in thi3 way some historical illustration of the language is given at the same time* 
The quotations from Shakspeare (born a. d. 1564, died 1616) may be considered as illustrating the 
tse of the words at the close of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century ; those from Milten 
(born 1608, died 1674) the succeeding half century, or middle of the 17th century; anJ thoMfrofli 
Wordsworth (born 1770) the contemporary use in the 13th centurv. 



1). Applet on fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 

"^PROFESSOR" MANDEVILLE'S NEW ENGLISH READER. 
A COURSE OF READING 
FOR G >MMON SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES, 

OK THF PLAN OF THE AUTHOR'S * ELEMENTS OF READING AND ORATORY. 

By H. MANDEVILLE, 
Professor of Moral Science and Belles Lettres in Hamilton College, N. Y. 

One neat Volume, 12mo. Price 75 cents. 

This work is divided into three parts. The first relates to Grammar ; it contains a descriptio* 
of the different letters of the alphabet and their various sounds, of syllables, and also of words a* 
parts of speech. The second part contains a classification and description of all the sentences or 
formulas of thought in every degree of expansion, to be found in the English language. Part the 
third contains a series of exercises on paragraphs : the sentences not detached and classified as in 
part second, but appearing in the connections and relations of ordinary discourses. 

All who acknowledge any degree of interest in having the young acquire the largest amount 
of information in the shortest possible time, and at the least possible expense, will be led to ex 
amine the method this work proposes to substitute for the prevailing one. To further illustrate 
the plan of the Author, the following Extract from the Preface is given : 

" 1. It will impart a kind of knowledge which can be acquired in no other way, and which 
indeed no one has hitherto attempted to teach; a knowledge of sentential structure; of the 
anatomy, the b net, nerves, and muscles of the language ; of the various forms of expressior 
which thought assumes in obtaining utterance in conversation or books. 

" 2. It lays a foundation in the nature of things, in the very structure of language, for a cor 
reot, intelligent, and graceful delivery, in reading and speaking. 

" 3. It will prepare the pupil for the study of grammar. There are few teachers, I presume, 
who have not felt the want of an intermediate stage of instruction between that study and read 
ing ; of something to bridge the chasm between the two, and render the transition from the one 
to the other less ahrupt and difficult. To pass at once, with a mere capacity to put the words 
of a sentence together and make sense out of them, to the study of grammar, is equivalent to a 
leap from arithmetical enumeration to the abstraction of algebra. Perceiving this, not a few 
teachers of eminence have recommended the study of the Latin language, as a preparation fot 
that of English grammar ; and in the present state of things the recommendation is, in my opin- 
ion, a judicious one. I distinctly remember, that I myself obtained more knowledge of the prin- 
ciples of English grammar from a few weeks' study of the Latin, than I obtained during a yeai 
of previous application to the English alone. But the study of Latin is not pursued in our com 
mon schools ; and if it were, an immense majority of the youth taught in them have neither the 
means, time, nor inclination to pursue it. If possible, therefore, a substitute should be provided 
In the following work I have attempted this ; and it cannot be read, I think, more than once 
certainly not more than twice through, if read with any degree of care, without fixing in th* 
mind of the pupil some very important grammatical ideas ; and this while yet ignorant, perhaps 
of what the word 'grammatical ' means." 
Preamble and Resolutions passed by the Oneida County Normal Institute, at the close of its 
Session at Home, October 16, 1846. 

Whereas, in our opinion, reading is the most important branch of education taught in oui 
schools, demanding the best qualifications in teachers, as well as an improved method of instruc 
tion ; and whereas it has been hitherto, to a lamentable extent, underrated and neglected, or t* 
cultivated with due diligence, cultivated on principles which afford but little hope of improve 
ment ; and whereas Professor Mandeville, of Hamilton College, ha made it clear to us that a 
better method than the prevailing one may and ought to be substituted — a method which, il 
adopted, must produce striking improvement, and feeling grateful to him for the information h<? 
has imparted to us ; therefore 

Resolved, As the settled conviction of the Board of Instruction, and of the members of thL 
Institute, that the system taught by Professor Mandeville is the system of nature ; at once sci 
entitle and practical, sound in its theory and principles, simple in its statements, and pertinen 
and ample in its illustrations ; and that this work, in which this system is most beautifully de 
veloped, should be carefully studied arid mastered by every practical teacher. 

jit a Meeting of the Special Committee appointed to examine and recommend books fo~ the us 
of the Common Schools of Oneida County, this work was examined and adopted as a Text Book 



MANDEVILLE'S ELEMENTARY READER. 

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTHOR'S 

"Course of Reading" and "Elementary Reading and Oratory." 

By H. MANDEVILLE, D. D., 

Professor of Moral Science and Belles Lettres, in Hamilton College. 

In two Parts, boards, Price 38 Cjiits each. 

This work may be used independently ; but teachers will derive much advantage from its w 
A connection with the "Course of Reading," in which the Author's theory and practio* of 
•locution is fu iv developed 



D. Jljrpleton fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 



PROF. MANDEVILLE'S COURSE OF READING. 

OPINIONS OF ITS MERITS. 

[Letter Irom the Rev. J. R. Boyd, Author of the " Elements of Rhetoric and Literary Critl- 
sis-™," and "Eclectic Moral Philosophy."] 

Watertown, Dec. 28, 1846. 

Having examined, with some care, the recent work of Prof. Mandeville, entitled a " Course 
)f Reading," I am free to express the opinion that it possesses transcendent claims to public ac- 
ceptance and use. It is not a mere collection of pieces in Prose and Verse, like the reading 
books in common use, but a work on the art of reading, constructed upon a plan that seems pe- 
culiarly well adapted to accomplish more by far than other reading books. It embraces a phi- 
losophical analysis of the English language, in its letters, elementary sounas, and various forma 
of sentences. The nature and uses of the various parts of speech are very properly and minutely 
explained as a preliminary to the classification and description of all the sentences or formulas 
of thought to be found in the English language. Numerous examples of each kind of sentence 
are given separately, and instructions for the manner of reading them are furnished. By this 
orocess the acquisition of the art of reading must be greatly facilitated. The next process car- 
ries the student forward to the reading of paragraphs, as found in the connections and relations 
of ordinary discourse, and these are to be analyzed into their eomponent parts according to in- 
junctions previously given and acted upon in the reading of separate and classified sentences. 

I agree with the author in the belief that his work is peculiarly well adapted to impart a 
knowledge of the structure of the English language ; that it lays a broad and just foundation for 
in iiitelligent and correct delivery ; that it prepares the pupil for the study of English Grammar 
\nd indeed introduces him to a practical and useful acquaintance with noi a small part of what 
prope>!y belongs to the science of Grammar, but not less so to the art of Reading ; and further, 
that it furnishes a very happy introduction to the art of Rhetoric, or of English Composition. 

The peculiarities of the work are briefly set forth by the author in the following words — 
" Every sentence in the language is described ; and every sentence has its own delivery. The 
structure learned therefore by one, two, or at most three reviews, it is learned forever. Hence 
forward as soon as a sentence falls under the observation of the pupil, he knows how it should 
be read ; and while he can read it, he can give a solid reason for its being read in that particulai 
manner." 

Such being the general features of the work under consideration, I shall consider it a pleasing 
duty to make an experiment of its value with classes und^r my care, and to recommend the same 
experiment to other instructors. 

J. R. BOYD, 
Principal Jefferson County Institute. 



November 27, ]846. 
Dear Sir, — Having examined with considerable care " Mandeville's Course of Reading," J 
consider it of far more practical value, as a means of making correct readers, than any othei 
•hat has come under my observation ; and although sensible of the inconvenience arising from * 
Yequent change of books, I cannot avoid the conviction that the introduction of the work un 
ier consideration, would greatly facilitate the progress of the pupil in this elegant and useful ao 
eomplishment. The author has not attempted a servile imitation of what others have done, bu> 
has originated an entirely new plan — a plan as scientific as it is original, and as useful as it i» 
beautiful. I cannot but deem it a valuable accession to the means of instruction emplojew .i 
oar common schools and academies. I shall introduce it into my own school. 

Very respectfully, 

J. H. PURKITT 

MT. PLIAIAKT BOARDISO AND DAY SCHOOL, ) 

Roxbury, Mass. i 



D. Appleton fy Co.'s Educational Publications. 

HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 
Prom the Invasion of Julius tear to the Reign of Queen Victoria. 

BY MRS. MARKHAM. 

A new edition, with Questions, adapted for Schools in the United States. 

BY ELIZA ROBBINS, 

Author of " American Popular Lessons," " Poetry for Schools," &e. 

One volume, 12mo Price 75 cents. 

Extract from the American Editor's Preface. 

There is nothing more needed in our schools than good historiess ; not the dry compends in 
present use, but elementary works that shall suggest the moral uses of history, and the providence 
of God, manifest in the affairs of men. 

Mrs. Markham's history was used by that model for all teachers, the late Dr. Arnold, master ot 
the great English school at Rugby, and agrees in its character with his enlightened and pious views 
of teaching history. It is now several years since I adapted this history to the form and price 
acceptable in the schools in the United States. I have recently revised it, and trust that it may he 
extensively serviceable in education. 

The principal alterations from the origiual are a new and more convenient division of para 
graphs, and entire omission of the conversations annexed to the chapters. In the place of these 1 
have affixed questions to every page that may at once facilitate the work of the teacher and the 
pupil. The rational and moral features of this book first commended it to me, and I have used \* 
successfully with my own scholars. 

PRIMARY LESSONS: 

BEING A SPELLER AND READER, ON AN ORIGINAL PLAN, 

In which one letter is taught at a lesson, with its power ; an application being immediately made, 
in words, of each letter thus learned, and those words being directly arranged into reading lessons. 

BY ALBERT D. WRIGHT, 

Author of " Analytical Orthography," " Phonological Chart" fyc. 

One neat volume, 18mo, containing 144 pages, and 28 engravings. Price 12£ cents, bound. 

In this new work on an original plan, for teaching the rudiments of reading, the following are 
some of its peculiar features : 

1. One letter of combination is presented at a lesson, and at the same time its elementary sound 
is taught. 

2. As fast as the letters are learned, an application is immediately made, by using them synthe- 
tically in familiar words. 

3. No word is given, in which a letter occurs, that has not been previously learned, in the above 
synthetic method. 

4. The capital letters are taught one at a time, and by review in reading lessons. 

5. The plan of putting the letters, with their elementary sounds, together into words, by this 
original system of synthesis, it is believed will greatly facilitate the acqusition of words, and of 
letters and their powers. 

6. The words a-e systematically presented in the synthesis, being classified by their vowel sounds 
and terminating consonants ; and generally, at the end of each class, they are arranged into little 
spelling lessons. 

7. The learner is immediately initiated into reading lessons, composed of words of two or three 
letters, and is then led, progressively, into more difficult words. 

8. The reading lessons are composed entirely of the words previously presented in the synthesis, 
or the spelling lessons. 

9. The cuts are intended to illustrate the reading lessons, to attract the attention of the young, 
and to suggest thoughts for oral instruction, and for conversation to children. 

10. The book constitutes a Primary Spelling Book and Reader, — thus combining two books in 
one of 144 pages, adapted to families and schools. 

The advantages of a system of application, by which the child is permitted to use the letters as 
fast as they are learned, by forming little words with them, and then by arranging these words into 
easy sentences, must be obvious to every parent and teacher. 

At a Meeting of the County and Town Superintendents of the County of Greene, Oct. 27, 1846, 
It was unanimously Resolved, that we are f<s 'Drably impressed with the method of teaching the 
Alphabet, and an early course of reading, as exhibited in tke plan and arrangement of Wright's 
Primary Lessons — and believing that instruction in this branch of education will be much facilitated 
by the use of that work, we recommend it to the teachers, and to those who have children to be 
instructed ; and add it to the list of Text Books recommended in this Coun*v. 

WM. ?. TERHUNE, County Superintendent, Chairman 

22 



D. Appleton §• Co.'s Educational Publications. 

HISTORICAL 

AND 

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. 

BY 

RICHMAL MANGNALL. 

FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE EIGHTY-FOURTH LONDON EDITION. WITH LARGE 
ADDITIONS I EMBRACING THE 

ELEMENTS OF MYTHOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, ARCHITECTURE, HERALDRY, ETC. 

ADAPTED FOR SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES BY 

MRS. JULIA LAWRENCE. 

Klnstrated with numerous Engravings. One volume 12mo. $1. 

CONTENTS. 

A Short View of Scripture History, from the Creation to the Return of the Jews — Question* 
from the Early Ages to the time of Julius Cassar — Miscellaneous Questions in Grecian History — 
Miscellaneous Questions in General History, chiefly ancient — Questions containing a Sketch of 
the most remarkable Events from the Christian Era to the close of the Eighteenth Century — 
Miscellaneous Questions in Roman History — Questions in English History, from the Invasion of 
Cap.sar to the Reformation — Continuation of Questions in English History, from the Reformation 
to the Present Time — Abstract of Early British History — Abstract of English Reigns from the Con- 
quest — Abstract of the Scottish Reigns — Abstract of the French Reigns, from Pharamond to 
Philip I— Continuation of the French Reigns, from Louis VI to Louis Phillippe — Questions Re- 
lating to the History of America from its discovery to the Present Time — Abstract of Roman 
Kings and most distinguished Heroes — Abstract of the most celebrated Grecians — Of Heathen My- 
thology in general — Abstract of Heathen Mythology — The Elements of Astronomy — Explanation of 
a few Astronomical Terms— List of Constellations — Questions on Common Subjects — Questions on 
Architecture — Questions on Heraldry — Explanation of such Latin Words and Phrases as are seldom 
Englished — Questions on the History of the Middle Ages. 

PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. 

Having for many years made use of " Mangnall's Questions " in the education of my own 
children, I was tempted to introduce them into my school ; although they were not in general use 
it being an expensive book, and at that time (seven years since) difficult to obtain. I then dis- 
covered many deficiencies, which I had not before thought of, particularly in having no portiflfa 
allotted to the history of the United States,, so necessary in the education of all Americans ; ant 
too much space appropriated to the English Constitution, together with many sentences, the appli- 
cation of which are entirely local. These considerations have tempted me, feeling the value of the 
work in its original form, and being convinced that no book of the kind has ever been compiled so 
well calculated— to use the words of the author's preface — " to awaken a spirit of laudable curi- 
osity in young minds," and satisfy that curiosity when awakened in a manner the most concise and 
clear, to rearrange the work, adapting it more particularly for the use of schools in this country, 
by adding what has been entirely omitted, and curtailing those portions which, from their diffuseness 
on matters not particularly interesting to young Americans, are unnecessary. I claim no merit fo. 
this effort, even should it prove successful, as the portions of American history I have added havt 
been compiled from standard works — those of Prescott, Bancroft, and Wooster — simplified as mucl 
a« possible, and arranged according to the plan pursued in the English work. The chronological 
table has been arranged on Mrs. Willard's plan, in her excellent "History." The "Common 
Subjects" ha v « been enlarged, and many errors corrected. As a knowledge of Mythology is 
necessary to the understanding and enjoyment of the Classics, and as I know of none, in English, 
adapted to ladies' schools, I have added to this book a translation of Noel and Chapsall's well- 
known work, with some slight alterations and additions. In the English book there is only an 
alphabetical list of the deities, etc. A taste for Architecture is so rapidly increasing in this country, 
that it becomes necessary for every young person to understand the different orders, and terms made 
use of, to discriminate between the pure and mixed styles, and to give different portions, of sacred 
edifices particularly, their proper names ; I have therefore devoted a few pages to this subject, 
which I hope will be found useful. 

I have endeavored, in the few pages on the subject of Heraldry, to give as concise an account 
of it as possible to convey a clear idea of the terms made use of, the orders of knighthood, titles, 
etc., which are constantly met with in reading history, and which it is difficult to explain to the 
pupil totally unacquainted with the subject. The plates will give a correct idea of the appearance 
of the escutcheons, etc. I trust this short explanation will not be thought out of place ia e r i» 
republican country. 

23 



D. App/eton Sf Co.'s Educational Publications. 



THE HISTORIES 

OF 

CAIUS COKNELIUS TACITUS. 

WITH NOTES FOR COLLEGES. 

BY W. S. TYLER, 

Frnfcssor of Languages in Amherst College. 
One volume, 12mo. 

The text of this edition follows, for the most part, Orelli's, Zurich, 1848, which, being based on 
a new and most faithful recension of the Medicean MS., by his friend Baiter, may justly be cm 
siderecl as marking a new era in the history of the text of Tacitus. In several passes, however, 
where he has needlessly departed from the MS., I have not hesitated to adhere to it in company 
with other ediiors, believing, that not unfrequently " the most corrected copies are the less correct." 
The various readings have been carefully compared throughout, and, if important, are referred to in 
•lie notes. 

The editions which have been most consulted, whether in the criticism of the text or in the 
preparation of the notes, are, besides Orelli's, those of Walther, Halle, 1831 ; Ruperti, Hanover 
1839; and LKiderlein, Halle, 1847. * * * * 

[t wili be seen, that there are not unfreqnent references to my edition of the Germania and 
Agridhla. These are not of such a nature, as to render this incomplete without that, or essentiallv 
dependent upon it Still, if both editions are used, it will be found advantageous to read the 
German ia and Agricola first. The Treatises were written in that order, and in that order they best 
illustrate the history of the author's mind. The editor has found in his experience as a leacher, 
that students generally read them in that way with more facility and pleasure, and he lias con- 
structed his notes accordingly . It is hoped, that the notes will be found to contain not only the 
grammatical, but likewise all the geographical, archaeological and historical illustrations, that are 
necessary t > render the auihor intelligible. The editor has at least endeavored toavoid the fault, 
which Lord Bacon says " is over usual in annotations and commentaries, viz., to blanch the 
objure places, and discourse upon the plain." But it has been his constant, not to say his chief 
aim, to carry students beyond the dry details of grammar and lexicography, and introduce ihem 
into a familiar acquaintance and lively sympathy with the author and his" times and with that 
g.eat empire, of whose degeneracy and decline in its beginnings he has bequeathed to us so profound 
and instructive a history. The Indexes have been prepared with much labor and care, and, it is 
believed, will add materially to the value of tke" work. — Extract from Preface. 

THE "GERM A NI A AND AGRICOLA 

OF 

CAIUS CORNELIUS TACITUS. 

WITH NOTES FOR COLLEGES. 

BY W. S. TYLER, 

Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages in Amherst College. 
One very neat volume, 12mo. GS^ cents. 

" We welcome the book as a useful addition to the classical literature of our country. His very 
correctly and elegantly prepared and printed. Thirteen pages are occupied by a well-written Life 
of Tacitus, in which not merely outward events are narrated, but the chaiacter of the historian, 
both as a man and a writer, is minutely and faithfully drawn. The notes to each of the treatises 
are introduced by a general critique upon the merits and matter of the work. The body of the 
notes is drawn up with care, learning, and judgment. Points of style and grammatical construc- 
tions, and historical references, are ably illustrated. We have been struck with the elegant 
precision which marks these notes; they hit the happy medium between the too much of some 
commentators, and the to j little of others." — North, JHuieric'in Review. 

Among the numerous classical Professors who have highly commended and introduced this 
volume, are Fklton of Howard, Lincoln o r Brown University, Crosby of Dartmouth, Coleman 
of Princeton, North of Hamilt n, Packard of Bowdoin, Owen of New- York, Chamflin of 
Waterville, &c , &c. 







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